Former New York Jets first-round pick Jamal Adams said that he would like to return to the team for the upcoming season.

Adams expressed regret for how his tenure with the team ended and is looking for a second chance with the organization that drafted him in 2017.  While it’s highly unlikely the Jets would consider bringing Adams back to Florham Park, it was somewhat surprising that he wants to return to the team that he had plenty of disdain for during his final season in New York.

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Should the Jets consider an Adams reunion?  Can he be a useful piece to Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks?  We take a look at the pros and cons of a potential Jamal Adams return to the big apple:

PRO:  He can get after the quarterback

During his first year with the Seahawks, Adams was not only the starting safety, but was used as more of a blitzing linebacker off the edge.  He finished the 2020 season with nine and a half sacks and added a new wrinkle to the Seahawks pass rush.  The Jets are fairly thin at defensive end with only Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson, who is returning from a torn achilles tendon suffered during last season.  While signing Adams doesn’t close the book on the Jets adding another player to get after the quarterback, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks loves to blitz and could use him as a situational pass rusher.

CON:  He’s barely played

After the 2020 season, it really went downhill for Adams as not only did he struggle in coverage as a safety, he also struggled to stay healthy. Since 2022, Adams has only played in 15 games combined over four seasons and made little to no impact. He was cut by the Seahawks before the 2024 season and failed to catch on in Tennessee and Detroit. That doesn’t exactly bode well for his chances to land on an NFL roster this year, let alone the Jets.

PRO:  Redemption tour

During his interview, Adams seemed genuine in his desire to return to the Jets. Perhaps he has unfinished business and wants to make amends for the way his relationship with the team ended. Outside of recently signed Andre Cisco, the Jets have a lot of question marks at the safety position. Tony Adams and fourth round pick Malachi Moore are the only other locks to make the roster.  Moore is unproven and Tony Adams struggled so bad at times last season, that owner Woody Johnson reportedly wanted him benched. No one knows if Jamal Adams can help a team’s secondary at this stage, but he knows his back is against the wall and he’ll have to come into camp ready to work. Aaron Glenn could be exactly the type of coach he needs to jumpstart his career.

CON:  The wound may not have healed

Adams humiliated the Jets organization with his constant complaining about a new contract and his interview with the New York Daily News where he publicly criticized then head coach Adam Gase. Whether justified or not with his comments regarding Gase, you don’t publicly rip the team that signs your checks.  Trading Adams to the Seahawks proved to be the ultimate steal as the first round picks the Jets received turned into Garrett Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker.   But, it may not be easy for the Jets to forgive and forget his past comments and his disinterest in playing for the team when he was on the roster. The Jets have dealt with way too much player drama for far too long and Glenn is determined to change the culture of this franchise. He may prefer to work with the young talent currently on the roster instead of rolling the dice on a player like Adams, who can be a headache and whose best years are well behind him.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jamal Adams Back With The Jets? Pros and Cons of a Possible Reunion.