Jamal Adams is five years removed from the trade which ended his Jets tenure. The veteran safety is now eyeing a return to the team which drafted him, however. 
“I would love to be back with the Jets and, obviously, finish it the right way,” Adams said during an exchange with Jets fans on X (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “Man, that would be a dream come true, just to patch up that relationship and kind of make it right.”
Adams spent his first three years with the Jets, establishing himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs over that span. The former No. 6 pick earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 and ’19, along with one spot on each of the first- and second- All-Pro teams along the way. A trade request sparked in part by Adams’ desire to become the league’s highest-paid safety led to a trade sending him to the Seahawks. He noted, via Cimini, he has reached out to former Jets GM Joe Douglas to apologize for the way the saga unfolded.
That swap saw New York receive a pair of first-round picks and saw Adams land a $70MM deal with the Seahawks. The LSU product recorded 9.5 sacks in 2020 en route to a third straight Pro Bowl nod. After that, however, Adams struggled with a decline in play in coverage and, later, injuries. He (along with Quandre Diggs) was released in a cost-shedding move last spring.
The Titans wound up adding Adams, but in late October the team granted his request to be released and become an in-season free agent. That led to a practice squad arrangement with the Lions, allowing Adams to spend time with then-Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn is now the Jets’ head coach, so a return to New York would double as a reunion between those two.
As the Lions dealt with a number of injuries on defense, Adams only made a pair of appearances and played just 20 defensive snaps. A regular role would not be expected if a Jets pact were to worked out to add him to a safety room including returnee Tony Adams, free agent addition Andre Cisco and fourth-round rookie Malachi Moore. A move to linebacker has been floated in the past in Adams’ case, and such a transition would involve a spot behind Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams on the depth chart.
With over $23MM in cap space, the Jets could certainly afford a low-cost flier on Adams. It will be interesting to see if the team’s new regime led by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey reciprocates his interest in a contract.
Smells like desperation.
On whose part? I think it could be a low risk deal for both. He got his bag with the Seahawks and the Jets got a couple first rounders, one of which turned into Alijah Vera Tucker after a draft day trade, I believe. If Jamal has become a bit more humble from his experiences, he could be a good voice for that defense in the locker room.
It’s post draft, he’s still unsigned and he’s pitching a reunion with the Jets who aren’t likely to be a good team. Just feels desperate, if they wanted him they’d have already called
Ohhh is he now? Lmao😹
The other first rounder became Garrett Wilson.
He’s looking for a JOB but if he has anything left in the tank at the right price then why not kick the tires and see…very little guaranteed money if any…make good as a per game contract. When he doesn’t hurt himself by playing reckless and just plays football he is a version of the “Honey Badger”…I hope it works for him and the Jets
He can’t run anymore. He has been declining for years. He is not longer a viable NFL player
Would only take a flier if he plays OLB.