If Jamal Adams returns to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, it will reportedly require a position change.
According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, any interest the Seahawks have in Adams would depend on him agreeing to play weakside linebacker in a part-time role rather than his traditional safety spot.
Henderson added that the three-time Pro Bowler would likely have to sign for close to the league minimum as well since the Seahawks only have about $1.5 million in salary cap space.
Adams, 28, was originally the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft by the New York Jets, and he earned Pro Bowl nods in two of his three seasons in New York, as well as a First Team All-Pro selection in 2019.
The Jets subsequently traded Adams and a fourth-round pick to Seattle in 2020 for two first-round picks and a third-round pick.
It initially looked like a win for the Seahawks, as Adams was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl in 2020 after racking up 83 tackles and 9.5 sacks in only 12 games.
The 9.5 sacks set a new single-season NFL record for the most sacks by a defensive back.
Shockingly, Adams did not record a single sack in any of the next three seasons, although he did have a career-high two interceptions in 2021.
Injuries have wreaked havoc on Adams throughout his career, as he missed multiple games in each of the past five seasons.
In 2022, Adams was limited to just one game due to a torn quad, and he missed all but nine games last season because of multiple injuries, including continued issues with his quad.
Adams did start all nine of the games he played in last season, recording 48 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two passes defended.
At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Seahawks decided to reshape their entire safety room by releasing both Adams and Quandre Diggs.
The Seahawks are returning 2023 Pro Bowler Julian Love as a starter and also signed Rayshawn Jenkins after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him, and it seems likely that they will be the starting duo in 2024.
That means there is no room for Adams in the secondary, but he actually could thrive as a linebacker since he has spent much of his career playing close to the line of scrimmage anyway.
If the Seahawks or another team sign Adams and have him focus on rushing the quarterback and stopping the run, it would accentuate his strengths and prevent him from being a potential liability in pass coverage.
