The Vikings are adding another layer to Brian Flores’ defense, and this one comes with a familiar name and a lot of moving parts.
According to independent NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Minnesota is signing linebacker Jamal Adams. Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley already knows Adams well from their time together with the Seattle Seahawks from 2020 through 2023, which gives this move a little more context even if it still landed as a surprise.
Adams arrives with a résumé that once made him one of the league’s most recognizable defensive backs. The New York Jets took him in the first round in 2017, and he came out hot, making three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2020.
Across nine NFL seasons, Adams has piled up 546 tackles, 55 tackles for loss, 44 quarterback hits, 36 pass deflections, 22.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and two touchdowns in 102 games. Last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he posted 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, one sack, and one forced fumble in 17 games.
What makes this signing interesting for Minnesota is where Adams fits now, not where he started. He’s no longer the same player who was earning Pro Bowl nods early in his career. Last year, he made the move from safety to linebacker, and that shift opens the door for Flores to use him in a bunch of different ways.
That versatility is the selling point. Adams can help against the run, come downhill as a blitzer, and still handle coverage duties when needed. In a Flores defense, that kind of flexibility matters.
A starting job doesn’t look likely for Adams in 2026 unless injuries change the picture. The more realistic role is as a rotational linebacker, which still gives Minnesota another useful piece to work into the mix.
And there’s already plenty of competition in that room. Eric Wilson, Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., and rookie Jake Golday are all in the fight for spots when training camp opens. Adams joining that group gives the Vikings more options and more pressure on everyone involved.
There’s also a chance Minnesota uses him in other spots, including safety or nickel in certain packages. If Flores goes that route, it could create some real headaches for opposing offenses.
It’s the kind of signing Vikings fans probably didn’t see coming, but the logic is there. Adams showed last season with the Raiders that he could handle the linebacker transition. Now the challenge is learning the defense quickly and making his presence felt right away.
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