The heat is on for Jamal Adams in Las Vegas. As the locker room buzzes with talk of significant changes, one question hangs over everything: What happens when a veteran, famous for his time at safety, gets a new gig deep into his NFL career? Pete Carroll, now leading the Las Vegas Raiders, has made a move that has everyone watching. Can an aggressive player like Adams really fit in somewhere new, or will the gamble backfire?
Why Is Pete Carroll Moving Jamal Adams to Weakside Linebacker for the Raiders?
When Carroll walked into the Raiders’ facility in Las Vegas, he brought a reputation for shaking things up. The Raiders, after all, have managed only one winning season since moving to Las Vegas. Carroll wasted no time making his mark. As a coach who loves building defenses, he wanted a say in who plays and where.
Right away, Carroll pointed to his recent signing of Adams. Adams is switching to WILL linebacker, which caught a few fans off guard. The logic?
“His style of play is so suitable for what we’re trying to do here with being about being aggressive and tough,” said Carroll.
Pete Carroll on reuniting with Jamal Adams, who he said is switching over to WILL linebacker for the #Raiders:
“His style of play is so suitable for what we’re trying to do here with being about being aggressive and tough.” pic.twitter.com/tunHOfzK2z
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) July 25, 2025
The 2017 No. 6 overall pick, Adams, who was traded to Carroll’s Seahawks in 2020, has built a name for his hard-hitting style. He might not have the massive frame of some safeties at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, but he does everything with force. That physicality has shown up with seven forced fumbles so far.
But here’s where things get tricky: Adams’ weak spot is pretty clear for a safety as he struggles in coverage. Football Reference shows quarterbacks posted a 118.7 rating when throwing his way last year, the kind of number that gives coaches headaches. He just can’t change directions smoothly on the fly.
On top of that, Adams doesn’t have the usual defensive back speed. That led to a safety career built more on getting close to the line and blitzing, where he’s racked up 21.5 sacks so far. Even with those strengths, playing linebacker asks for more.
Adams is in the mix with new free agent linebackers Germaine Pratt and Devin White. Both have spent more time at the position and know all the ins and outs that come with it. As Carroll figures out the lineup, sending Adams at the quarterback isn’t enough to own the weakside spot. Instead, Carroll could try Adams at the line of scrimmage, or put him in short-area coverage where his athletic limits aren’t stretched as far.
For Adams, reconnecting with Carroll feels like a throwback to earlier days. Still, this move is about more than nostalgia. It might be his last shot at taking on a meaningful role, especially as he closes in on turning 30. The former All-Pro doesn’t have endless opportunities to play how he likes, without too many restrictions.
Can Adams really make this switch work? The Raiders’ season might depend on it.
