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Pete Carroll’s Raiders era is underway, and the veteran coach is already pulling from his Seattle playbook to reshape Las Vegas’ defense. With the AFC West looking as tough as ever, Carroll made an intriguing move by bringing in former Seahawks safety Jamal Adams – not to patrol the secondary, but to compete for a weakside linebacker spot during training camp.
One preseason game in, and Adams might’ve already locked up his roster spot.
Adams’ Position Switch Pays Off in Raiders Debut
The position change raised eyebrows across the league, but Adams silenced doubters in his first game action. Despite never playing linebacker during his NFL career, the former All-Pro looked right at home in his new role against Seattle. In just 15 snaps, Adams racked up four tackles, four defensive stops, one pressure, and one quarterback hurry according to Pro Football Focus. Not just good numbers – they were good enough to earn him an 89.8 grade from PFF, the highest mark of any Raiders defender.
That’s quite the turnaround for a player whose career seemed to be fading.
Adams’ strong showing comes after his play declined late in his Seattle tenure, followed by forgettable stints with Tennessee and Detroit. Carroll clearly sees something others missed – perhaps because he knows exactly how to maximize Adams’ skillset as a hybrid defender who can blitz, tackle in space, and provide veteran leadership.
The Raiders’ official depth chart currently lists Adams as the backup outside linebacker behind Germaine Pratt. However, he’s already getting situational first-team reps in practice – a telling sign of where things might be headed.
Someone’s going to lose their spot because of this.
Seventh-round pick Cody Lindenberg could be the odd man out when roster cuts arrive. The rookie middle linebacker saw more extensive action (27 snaps) against Seattle but had mixed results. Lindenberg recorded three tackles but allowed four receptions for 37 yards on four targets, according to PFF. While he plays a different linebacker position than Adams, his third-string status makes him vulnerable.
If the Raiders do choose Adams over Lindenberg for the final 53, they could still try stashing the rookie on their practice squad. Late Day 3 picks typically clear waivers more easily than higher-profile players.
What started as a training camp flyer could become one of Carroll’s first significant defensive tweaks in Las Vegas. Adams has two more preseason games to cement his position while Lindenberg faces an uphill battle to change the coaching staff’s minds.
