Jamal Adams: From Jets Superstar to Raiders Linebacker?! You Won't Believe It!

Remember Jamal Adams, the Jets' All-Pro safety? After a rollercoaster career marked by injuries and shifting teams, Adams has found a new home and a surprising new position with the Las Vegas Raiders. It's a move that's sparking a late-career resurgence and turning heads across the NFL.

A Fresh Start in Vegas

Following stints with the Seahawks, Titans and Lions, Adams signed with the Raiders, reuniting with his former Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll. But this wasn't just another roster addition. Carroll had a different vision for Adams: linebacker.

"He straight up told me, 'You're going to be in the linebacker room, so get over it,'" Adams recounted, laughing. Despite never playing linebacker before, even in his youth football days, Adams embraced the challenge.

Early Success as a Linebacker

The transition appears to be paying off handsomely. In the Raiders' Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots, Adams shone as a linebacker. He played 35% of the defensive snaps and earned an impressive 90.9 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, ranking second among all NFL linebackers for the week. His performance included three run stops and strong coverage, allowing only one catch for five yards.

• 90.9 PFF grade (2nd among LBs)
• 3 defensive stops
• 1 catch allowed (5 yards)

Raiders team reporter Levi Edwards noted Adams' versatility throughout training camp, highlighting his ability to rush the quarterback and drop back into coverage. This flexibility is proving invaluable to the Raiders' defense. It appears the move to linebacker might have unlocked the next chapter for Adams, who hopes to recreate the magic Pete Carroll had with Marshawn Lynch in Seattle.

Can Adams maintain this level of performance? Only time will tell. But for now, the former Jets superstar is making noise in a new position, proving that sometimes a change of scenery and a fresh perspective can revitalize a career.