The Minnesota Vikings are still working through some fine-tuning on their roster, which has led them to Jamal Adams.
Despite Adams making his hay as a safety, he extended his career with a position switch in recent years, that could mean the door is still open for Vikings fan favorite Harrison Smith to return for another campaign.
In the meantime, the Vikings are adding plenty of experience.
Vikings Signing Jamal Adams in Free Agency
GettyThe Vikings have added Jamal Adams to their fold.
“Breaking: 3x All-Pro S Jamal Adams is signing with the #Vikings, multiple sources tell me,” The Schultz Report’s Jordan Schultz reported on X on July 27. “Adams, who switched to LB for the Raiders last season, recorded 45 tackles, 5 TFLs and 1 sack in Vegas.”
Adams has earned over $71 million in his playing career. He was able to be selective with his plans, ultimately choosing the Vikings.
Adams, who turns 31 in October, has taken a winding journey to thee Vikings.
He began his career with the New York Jets, who selected him with the sixth overall pick of the 2017 draft. After three seasons and two Pro Bowl trips in the Big Apple, Adams took his talents to the Seattle Seahawks.
Another Pro Bowl and four seasons later, Adams split the 2024 campaign between the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans.
Adams has 546 combined tackles, 22.5 sacks, and 4 career interceptions.
He was a hard hitter at safety before his transition to linebacker, and he has 8 forced fumbles to go along with 4 recoveries. His fit with the Vikings figures to focus on capitalizing his versatility to play near the line of scrimmage or lurk in coverage.
Adams has been a liability in coverage in his later years, hence his move to linebacker. Time will tell if that is enough for Adams to maintain a roster spot with the Vikings.
Vikings Still Waiting for Harrison Smith
GettyHarrison Smith’s future continues to be a source of intrigue for the Vikings.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores can certainly take advantage of the many ways he can deploy Adams in his multi-faceted defense. Two-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty is among thee believers.
“Flo will have him playing so many different positions,” McCourty said in a post on X on July 27, quoting Schultz’s report. “Will be fun to see.”
The Vikings are still awaiting a final decision from Smith on what would be his 15th NFL season.
Smith and Adams would join Josh Metellus in giving Flores a plethora of playmakers to mix and match and disguise coverages this coming season. Health (and Smith officiallly returning) permitting, the Vikings should continue to be difficult to predict.
That is, aside from Flores’ tendency to send the house on pressure looks or bail out entirely, which again calls for versatility from the players.
Adams has a lot to prove.
However, Adams has landed in an encouraging situation with the Vikings, where he can make use of his skill set and compete for the postseason, where he has not been since the 2020 campaign while with the Seahawks.
The Vikings are coming off a 9-8 season in which they missed the postseason, but Adams joins former No. 1 overall pick in Pro Bowl veterans to join the roster this offseason.
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