Coming into the league out of LSU in 2017, safety Jamal Adams made an immediate impact with the New York Jets. Adams earned first-team All-Pro honors, as well as a second-team All-Pro nod, to go along with two Pro Bowl nods during his time in New York. He was traded to Seattle in 2020 for a pair of first-round picks, and after spending four seasons there, he bounced around a bit before landing in Minnesota this offseason.
What makes Adams so unique is his ability to play multiple positions on defense. He obviously has safety experience, but has lined up at linebacker and slot cornerback, among many other spots on the defense. From the sounds of it, he is doing something similar so far in camp, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN:
He writes, "Veteran
Jamal Adams said he appreciates the Vikings giving him a chance to work at safety, the position the New York Jets drafted him as in 2017, and that his new number of 32 is "definitely a better feeling" than the number he opened camp with (54). But Adams agreed it was likely he will also resume his linebacker duties at times in Flores' scheme. "I think it's going to be a little bit of everything, just being versatile in a lot of ways."
He added, "Adams continued to get first-team work at safety in some packages with fellow safeties Jay Ward and Jakobe Thomas sitting out team drills."
Adams brings some veteran leadership to this young secondary group, even if his playmaking abilities are on the decline. Still, playing for arguably his best defensive coordinator, who loves to get creative, could bring back the Adams of old.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings moving Jamal Adams around on defense trying to find a fit
