Training camp is about to open for the Minnesota Vikings, and the roster shuffle is already underway.
With a 9-8 finish and a third-place spot in the NFC North last season, Kevin O’Connell’s team is trying to clean up the edges of the roster before the real work begins. The biggest storyline over the next few weeks will be the quarterback battle. Kyler Murray is expected to win it, but no official call will come until O’Connell says so.
Minnesota also had some cap space to use, and new general manager Nolan Teasley put some of it to work Monday night by reaching an agreement with Jamal Adams.
The move adds a recognizable name, but not in the role most people would expect. Adams is joining the Vikings, yet he’s not coming in as a safety.
“The #Vikings are expected to use Jamal Adams at linebacker, a source tells @CBSSports.
Moved to linebacker last season with the Raiders after spending the first eight years of his career at safety. Now set to continue playing linebacker in Minnesota.”
Adams entered the league as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and spent his first three seasons with the New York Jets. He was a Pro-Bowl and All-Pro selection in three of his first four NFL seasons, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top defensive players.
After four years in Seattle - overlapping with Teasley’s time there - Adams has bounced around in recent seasons. He played for three teams over the past two years, and with the Las Vegas Raiders last season he made the transition from safety to linebacker.
Health has been a major part of Adams’ story. He appeared in only 15 games from 2022 through 2024, but he played all 17 last season. In his first year at linebacker, he finished with 45 tackles, one sack and five tackles for loss.
For Minnesota, the linebacker addition helps in one spot but doesn’t solve the bigger issue in the secondary. Adams is expected to rotate at linebacker with Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson, both of whom have dealt with injuries. Rookie Jake Golday still has to prove himself, and Ivan Pace Jr. has not carried over the same shine he once had.
The Vikings are also still waiting on clarity at safety. Harrison Smith’s status remains uncertain, and Adams won’t fill that hole. Brian Flores’ system could make the fit interesting, especially after it helped turn Josh Metellus into a utility weapon, but Adams is still adapting to the position at age 30.
The safety depth chart remains shaky. Metellus is not a traditional fit, Theo Jackson struggled after his extension, Jakobe Thomas is a rookie, and Jay Ward is being counted on to take a step forward.
Flores may be able to get more out of Ward, but the Vikings still know what Smith can bring if he returns. Even at 37, he was highly productive last season with two interceptions and 54 tackles in his 14th NFL season.
If Smith decides to come back, Minnesota would welcome him. For now, Adams is in the building, and the Vikings will see how much is left in the tank.
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Vikings Just Added A Former Pro Bowler Nobody Saw Coming
The Vikings are adding another piece to a linebacker room that already has plenty of moving parts, and Jamal Adams arrives with the kind of background that makes the move worth watching. He has played for the Jets, Seahawks and Raiders, and last season he made the transition from safety to linebacker, giving Minnesota a defender with experience in multiple spots and a chance to help in a variety of roles.
For a defense that likes flexibility, Adams fits the profile of a rotational player who can be deployed in different ways depending on the matchup. He enters a competition that already includes Eric Wilson, Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr. and rookie Jake Golday, and his path to snaps may come through linebacker work, safety looks or nickel packages as Brian Flores sorts out how the pieces fit together. [Read more 🡒]