Won’t try to be Adams

McDougald will undoubtedly be compared to Adams this season. He’s poised to take Adams’ starting spot on the Jets roster and will be tasked with holding down the deep secondary of the defense. But McDougald isn’t concerned with the comparisons or trying to replace Adams. He said his experience in Seattle – where he came in after two veteran safeties left– helped him realize he just has to play his game.

“This isn’t me here to replace Jamal,” he said. “This is me here as a fresh start, just the same way I couldn’t be Kam [Chancellor] and I couldn’t be Earl [Thomas] — but I still found a way to be successful (in Seattle).”

McDougald isn’t the same player as Adams. Not by a longshot. He knows this, Gregg Williams knows this, and the Jets didn’t trade for him to be Adams-lite. McDougald will change the way the Jets defense operates, but because he’s a different player.

“I can’t be Jamal. I’m not the same person as Jamal,” he continued. “The only thing I can do is show up every day and be the best Bradley McDougald. And then hopefully that wins my coaches, my players and the fans over. And that’s who I intend on being and why I’m here.”