When the Seattle Seahawks traded for Jamal Adams in 2020, the move seemed an attempt to get the team back to the Legion of Boom glory days. Adams was capable of doing things other mortals could not. His greatest gift was rushing the passer.
The safety was more like an edge rusher who was decent, but never great, in coverage. He was also good at run defense. He set a record for sacks by a defensive back in a season when he had 9.5 for Seattle in 2020. His knack for knowing when the ball would be snapped was elite.
In his first year with the Seahawks, Adams was named Second-Team All-Pro. There was no reason to think he would diminish much, as he only turned 25 in 2021. For seasons to come, he was likely to be a Kam Chancellor-like disruptor for Seattle. But then, he wasn't.
Former Seahawks safety Jamal Adams' fall from greatness has been swift and sure
Injuries became the bane of his football existence. He missed four and five games, respectively, in each of his first two seasons with Seattle, but that would be the high mark of his availability. He missed 16 in year three, eight in year four. When he played, he was no longer as effective as he was in his first season with the Seahawks.
After getting the 9.5 sacks in 2020, he never had another for Seattle. Worse, in his final season with the team, he was told he would not play in Week 15 versus the Philadelphia Eagles, and Adams reacted by never coming to the stadium or leaving Lumen Field before the game. He wasn't much of a teammate, as it turns out.
The Seahawks released Adams after the 2023 season, and he found a home with the Tennessee Titans. For a short bit, at least. He was often injured again, and, just as he was near his end with Seattle, he was a liability in coverage. Tennessee released Adams midway through the season, and he signed with the Detroit Lions and played in two games.
His quarterback rating allowed with Seattle was a bad 101.2. With the Titans and the Lions, it was 117.7.
Injuries have robbed him of the explosiveness he once had. There has been some discussion that maybe a team could move him to be a rotational edge rusher, but does he have the speed for that anymore? Unlikely.
Now, Adams is begging to be signed by anyone. He is still only 29 years old, though his body acts more like 40. Speaking on The Jets Lounge podcast, the safety pleaded to be brought back by the New York Jets.
He said, "I would love to be back with the Jets and, obviously, finish it the right way. Man, that would be a dream come true, just to patch up that relationship and kind of make it work. Just come in there as a seasoned vet and give game to the young cats and help in any way, shape, or form I can."
That's the point, though. Adams has proven he can no longer help a team win games. He showed himself to be a self-serving and poor teammate with the Seahawks. He likely only wants to be paid. But no team should do so.
