Tony Adams...Elite? Jets Remain Bullish on Improved Safety

Two years ago, Tony Adams was just an undrafted safety out of Illinois that the New York Jets decided to take a flier on.

Today, he's not only become a starter on the Jets' elite defense, but has grown into one of the best up-and-coming players at the safety position.

Following a 2023 season that saw him pick off three passes and record 82 tackles, New York's defensive staff not only thinks his best days are in front of Adams, but that he could be in line for a special season overall.

"He grows every day, man," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said of Adams. "He's an elite communicator, elite energy, elite strain and he's everything that we want out of a Jet. You know, he's just got that DNA in him. Looking forward to again, watching him progress as a professional."

Being an "elite communicator" has always been in Adams' DNA. As part of an elite secondary with the Fighting Illini, the now 25-year-old has brought his passion and energy to a Jets defense that has turned around their back end in just two seasons.

Entering his third season in the NFL, Adams has already stood out in many ways for New York's defense in training camp. He's picked off Aaron Rodgers twice - his latest coming from Monday's practice - and has helped turn around the Jets' safety room along with former Baltimore Raven Chuck Clark.

The two together are already showing out in a big way.

"It's always going to be confidence and communication," Saleh explained. "I always tell our players that the volume of your voice projects in your confidence. The louder you are, the more confident you are. And he's someone who just gets louder and louder and louder. He's playing with tremendous confidence."

Loud could be one way to describe Adams' style of play on the field. Another could be passionate about the game of football. In conversations with the safety before, Adams' love of football and his teammates stands out more than anything as he prepares for another season in New York.

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It's why his goals this season are clear.

"I just do my job. I learned a lot from the guys ahead of me. I just want to help make everyone around me better," Adams said Monday. "I think I'm playing a lot faster. You're going to see a lot more plays from me this year."

New York's 2022 draft class is considered one of the more elite in recent memory across the NFL with both Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson leading the way.

It's the undrafted safety in Adams though that could be the difference in ending New York's championship drought.