‘When My Time Came, I Was Ready for It’

Adams’ pressbox stats don’t say a lot about his season. The 6-0, 205-pounder had a sweet fourth-quarter, third-down pass breakup against 6-4, 254-pound TE Dawson Knox that produced multiple high-fives from the Jets sidelines in the wet snow of Buffalo. Then with the increased playtime in the final two games, he added a pair of six-tackle performances.

But Pro Football Focus’s grading system dives deeper to uncover a fairly impressive distinction for Adams. This season, nine undrafted NFL rookies logged 100-plus defensive snaps and 100-plus special teams snaps. Of those nine, Adams drew the highest PFF grades both for defense (69.5, 22nd among 105 rookies) and teams (82.2, 12th among 111 rookies). Not bad at all for a UdFA.

“I think every year I surprise myself,” he said. “It’s God, it’s hard work, it’s discipline, it’s attention to detail, like Lamarcus always teaches me.”

And Adams will be pleasantly surprised if a team goal of his for next season comes true.

“Hopefully, everyone comes back,” he said about his defensive mates, some of whom can and will test the free agency waters beginning in March. “I’m praying for it because I love them boys. I lay it all on the line for them. This is the first time ever in my life that I felt like I was part of a brotherhood. I was playing with those guys, meeting with those guys every day, laughing, talking, bickering.

“So I know if we all come back, this thing is going to be special. It’s going to be really special.”