Falcons named free agent fit for former highest-paid safety in NFL

Following the first wave of free agency, the Falcons have filled their two biggest positional needs — quarterback and wide receiver.

Terry Fontenot, Arthur Blank, and Raheem Morris put together a full court press for Kirk Cousins, beating out the Vikings for the veteran’s services. They followed it up with a flurry of moves, inking Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud to deals while also acquiring Rondale Moore in a trade.

That has effectively eased concerns about those two positions, but they aren’t the only ones that need addressing. The edge and cornerback rooms need bodies, and one could argue that the safety room could use another addition as well, depending on how the new coaching staff views DeMarcco Hellams and Richie Grant.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN believes the Falcons are the best free agent fit for one of the best former safeties in the league — Jamal Adams.

Best fit: Atlanta Falcons. Jessie Bates has one safety spot locked down, but 2021 second-round pick Richie Grant regressed badly last season and is entering the final year of his contract. Adams could push second-year safety DeMarcco Hellams for a starting role and offer an oft-moribund Falcons pass rush some extra juice as a blitzer.

The safety market is deep, and Adams has dealt with a brutal stretch of injuries following a blockbuster trade from the Jets to the Seahawks.

Seattle sent New York two first-round picks in 2020, and it looked great for the Hawks as Adams notched 9.5 sacks in his first campaign. However, injuries kept him from realizing his full potential, especially when teams started to exploit him in coverage.

Adams missed 33 games over his four seasons with the Seahawks, but there’s still a role for him. He’s not reliable in coverage; however, he’s a hybrid safety who thrives in a sub-package linebacker role more so than a traditional safety.

For the Falcons, they won’t be acquiring the player that the Seahawks inked to a four-year deal worth north of $70 million in 2021, which made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time.

He’s likely to sign for only a few million and be hungry to prove that the last few seasons weren’t the kind of player he is. Jamal Adams might be closer to the end of his career than his prime, but if Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake believe he’s still got some tread on the tire, a one-year, prove-it deal could be worth exploring.

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