5. Jamal Adams, New York Jets
Just insert the John Malkovich as “Teddy KGB” video here please. Pay that man. Pay that man his money.
Jamal Adams, like some of the players discussed and those yet to come, is the modern defender. That player who can pressure the QB on first down, stop the run on second down, and lock down a receiver on third down. As the game transitions to perhaps a model of the “positionless defender,” Adams is that player.
Last year Adams was elite in almost every facet of the game. You could actually begin with what he did in rushing the passer. He was used often as a blitzer, and Adams generated 25 total pressures, seven sacks and seven quarterback hurries.
I mean, come on:
Jamal Adams just stole Daniel Jones' lunch money pic.twitter.com/OSkA4jx76y
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 10, 2019
Adams blitzes here, runs through Saquon Barkley, strips Daniel Jones and takes the football to the house.
Then Fran Duffy from the Philadelphia Eagles his this quick audio breakdown of what Adams does near the line of scrimmage:
#Jets SS Jamal Adams is the tone-setter for that team. Explosive athlete in all areas, a sideline to sideline player who makes his presence felt at all three levels. Player to account for in run and pass game. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/6OZPtgAphF
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) October 3, 2019
Adams did allow a pair of touchdowns and an NFL passer rating of 79.1 last season. But numbers alone do not speak to his coverage skills. Adams is a tremendous, fast-twitch athlete who can lock down tight ends, running backs and even receivers in coverage. That allows the Jets to use Marcus Maye and the rest of the defense in a variety of roles around him. For what he brings to the table, the Jets need to bring the dough.