NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans plan on experimenting with Jamal Adams, and if the veteran is healthy he could be used in a variety of roles, I've confirmed after digging around to learn about their plans for him.
The idea of him as a starting safety opposite Amani Hooker in place of Elijah Molden, who has been in line for the job, is fluid.
Adams signed a one-year deal worth $1.25 million with $985,000 guaranteed, per Over the Cap. He's missed 24 of his last 39 regular season games with shoulder, quad and knee injuries.
The team is very conscious of the risk/reward of a veteran who played his first three seasons, which included two Pro Bowl trips and a First Team All-Pro season, with Dennard Wilson as his position coach.
The team views him as a potential big nickel if
the defense wants to stray from base personnel on base downs against personnel featuring multiple tight ends. He will also get chances to blitz from the safety spot and could play dime linebacker in some third-down packages.
Adams recorded 21.5 sacks in his first four seasons including 9.5 in 2020. But he has not sacked the QB since then.
Coverage is not his strength at this stage and the Titans are sure to seek to keep him out of situations where he'd have to play centerfield.
The Titans are still thin in coverage options at the position even as they've improved greatly at cornerback. Hooker can be a playmaker but gets dinged and needs help. Molden is a converted nickel corner who lacks speed. Mike Brown, Matthew Jackson and Shy Carter are all unproven.
The Titans have been in contact with Justin Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowler who played eight seasons in Denver, but his asking price remains high. They have also explored Quandre Diggs, a free agent who was teammates with Adams in Seattle. He's 31 and has been to three Pro Bowls.
So they may not be entirely set at the spot.
While the Titans will want to gauge Adams' fit in all these situations, they are likely to look to manage his workload during training camp. Based on his injury history they will want to limit his exposure to injury to game days as much as they can.