If it wasn’t obvious before, it certainly is now. Rookie safety Jamal Adams is the real deal.
And for a Jets organization in the early stages of a rebuild, that is perhaps the most positive takeaway from their 20-6 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
Heading into the season, expectations were almost unfairly high for Adams. As the sixth-overall pick in the 2017 draft, he was immediately hailed as a centerpiece of the defense before lining up for his first snap in the NFL.
That was partly a result of the Jets cleaning house. The team got rid of some of the staples of its defense from last year — linebacker David Harris, safety Marcus Gilchrist and later defensive end Sheldon Richardson — leaving vacancies for others to step up and making it possible for Adams to become the second highest-paid player on the team.
But through three games, Adams has shown the high expectations were warranted.
From watching the game against Miami, you wouldn’t know Adams, at 21, is the youngest player on the Jets’ active roster. He made plays all over the field and brought an energy that seemed to permeate the entire defense.
“He’s an exciting player. He did a lot of things the right way,” coach Todd Bowles said. “He brings a lot of emotion with him. He got the team behind him and got them into it.”
“I definitely want to keep that energy when I’m on the field,” Adams said. “Set the tone.”
That’s exactly what the LSU product did. Set the tone.
On the Dolphins’ first offensive possession, Adams stopped Jay Ajayi in the backfield for a 2-yard loss and blanketed Julius Thomas to cause an incompletion on a third down near midfield.
Adams had two tackles for a loss, one sack, and one pass deflection.
With the Jets coasting, up 20-0 in the fourth quarter, Adams was still revved up. After Jay Cutler got sacked on third down by his teammate Buster Skrine, the rookie got called for a foolish taunting penalty, allowing the Dolphins’ drive to continue. It was the one moment when Adams showed his youth.
Since 2010, the Jets have chosen a defensive player in the first round of every draft. Some have panned out. Several others haven’t.
So far, it looks like this year’s selection will be around for a while.