When the Las Vegas Raiders signed Jamal Adams in late July, the move raised more eyebrows than expectations. Once considered one of the NFL’s premier safeties, Adams’ recent stints with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions were anything but memorable. However, just a few days into Raiders training camp, Adams is already rewriting the narrative—and turning heads in the process.
According to Las Vegas Review-Journal beat reporter Vincent Bonsignore, Adams has been a standout. “Just a cannon ball in pass rush, and gets from here to there in the blink of an eye,” Bonsignore wrote on X, describing Adams’ performance with the Raiders defense.
Adams, 29, is no longer being asked to roam the deep secondary. Instead, under the direction of head coach Pete Carroll—who coached Adams in Seattle from 2020 to 2023—he’s making the transition to linebacker. The early returns? Eye-opening.
Jamal Adams Found Fountain Of Youth With the Las Vegas Raiders
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After suffering a string of injuries and bouncing between rosters, Adams’ career seemed in freefall. His time in Detroit yielded just three tackles in two appearances before being cut. In Tennessee, he barely saw the field. But Carroll, who once invested heavily in Adams during their Seahawks days, is giving him a fresh start in a new role. And so far, it’s working.
“Pete Carroll went a little bit mad scientist here and [gave] him a look at linebacker,” said Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter. “I think it’s already clear he’s the best coverage linebacker on this Raiders team.”
Adams’ transition comes at a crucial time for Las Vegas. Starting safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. went down with a broken fibula and will miss several months. While many speculated Adams might be moved back to safety, the Raiders appear committed to his new role at linebacker—where he’s thriving.
“He is a great player,” said teammate Isaiah Pola-Mao. “Just listening to him talk and how he plays a certain technique… it’s everything.”
With the preseason opener against the Seahawks looming, Adams has a chance to lock down a starting role. Whether this resurgence is sustainable or a training camp mirage remains to be seen. But for now, Jamal Adams is doing what few thought possible: forcing his way back into the conversation as a difference-maker on defense.