Jamal Adams far from a traditional ILB
https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/what-vikings-jamal-adams-signing-means-ivan-pace-jr-01kymq760f3v
What Vikings' Jamal Adams Signing Means for Ivan Pace Jr.
The surprising news of Jamal Adams’s return to the Vikings broke Monday evening, and it immediately raised questions about the implications for a number of players.
It was unclear initially what position Adams would play, as he moved to linebacker last season with the Raiders after playing safety for eight seasons. Then, shortly after the signing, it was announced Adams would remain at LB in Minnesota.
Adams joins an already strong defensive unit and looks to bolster it even more heading into 2026, but his arrival creates one potential issue to address by the end of camp. The room is packed—very packed. The Vikings currently have seven other players at the position before even counting Adams.
So what does this mean for an already busy LB room? Someone will likely have to be the odd man out, and there’s reason to believe it could be fourth-year ILB Ivan Pace Jr.
Addition of Adams
Adams was one of the most dominant defensive forces in the entire league... six years ago. Since then, he has hopped around with tenures in Tennessee and Detroit before converting from safety to linebacker in Vegas last season.
However, Adams was far from a traditional ILB as a Raider.
Adams took 254 snaps at ILB, 124 at slot corner, 66 at edge, and only 2 snaps at safety. This breakdown immediately invokes thoughts of an existing “do-it-all” defender on the team: safety Josh Metellus. Clearly, there’s a reason why defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes this guy and his potential fit in his ever-evolving scheme. Adams’s ability to play multiple roles is a perfect fit for Flo’s philosophy even if he is no longer the high-energy defender he once was. He enters a room that already has Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Pace, and 2026 second-round pick Jake Golday.
Keeping five ILBs could be quite the reach, even for Flores, which could throw a wrench into Pace's outlook with the Vikings.
How Ivan Pace Jr. got to this point
Pace won over Vikings fans after going undrafted out of Cincinnati in 2023. Not only did he make the 53-man roster, but his impact was felt as soon as he hit the field with 102 tackles as a rookie. One standout moment was a game-sealing interception off Raiders quarterback Aiden O'Connell in Vegas, the one exciting play in a 3-0 win. He entered 2024 with high expectations, but injuries to his quad, ankle, and hamstring limited his impact and production.
In 2025, Pace’s production continued to decline despite him being healthy and available. Shortly into the season, returning vet Eric Wilson took Pace’s starting role and never looked back. Pace made rotational appearances and contributed on special teams, but many thought his time in Minnesota would be over once his contract ended after the season.
Surprising news then came on March 9, as the Vikings tendered a one-year, right-of-first-refusal contract to the then-restricted free agent. All signs pointed to Pace having a role in the defense, even if it was diminished. That said, Minnesota can wipe his entire $3.52 million salary off the books if they want to move on from him (via trade or cut) this offseason, per Spotrac.
Deciding factors
Training camp and preseason will give us some indication of where Pace and Adams fall in the earliest form of the Vikings’ depth chart, and luckily, we won’t have to wait long as the team begins practices on Wednesday.
Pace will need to prove the Vikings right in their initial optimism from his rookie season in 2023, while Adams will need to prove he still has what it takes to be an impact player before turning 31 in October. Luckily for Vikings fans, Flores will likely be the one to make the final call, and he seems to know a thing or two about putting together the strongest defense possible.
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badgervike wrote:
Leber doesn't sound all that impressed
Me neither....
Its all upside imo, very little risk...
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
About 2.5 million cheaper than Pace.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
purplefaithful wrote:
Its all upside imo, very little risk...
No risk at all, really. Leber's talking about Jamal Adams like we're paying him a lot more than we are. $0 guaranteed. He's getting a THIRD of what we're paying UDFA Ivan Pace Jr. No one expected anything from the Eric Wilson signing last year, so if Flores thinks he can help us, he can probably help us.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
JimmyinSD wrote:
there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.
Happens every year with signings. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?
For me this is classic national media dumbshittery: "Kyler Murray is going to ROCK in Minnesota this year, he and KOC are a match made in heaven!" Projected record: 4th in the NFCN, 8-8. lol, how does that align?? 🤔
JimmyinSD wrote:
there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.
StickierBuns wrote:
Happens every year. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?
Spoken like a true, long-time vet Jimmy...
Sticky I agree the Vikings are absolutely under the radar, at least heading into the season. Between the painful 2025 season and the Qb talk, it does get (shall we say) taxing...
I still enjoy being on the precipice of the new season (that never gets old for me). Cant take it for granted and I'll leave it at that...
Lets go...
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
Jamal Adams in 2025 among LBs that played at least 225 coverage snaps: 🏈71.5 zone coverage grade (8th) 🏈81.7 man coverage grade (9th) #SKOL
— BREVY BRIGHTLIGHTS @brevmanbane Jul 29, 2026
Jamal Adams in 2025 among LBs that played at least 225 coverage snaps: 🏈71.5 zone coverage grade (8th) 🏈81.7 man coverage grade (9th) #SKOL
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
StickierBuns wrote:
Happens every year with signings. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?
For me this is classic national media dumbshittery: "Kyler Murray is going to ROCK in Minnesota this year, he and KOC are a match made in heaven!" Projected record: 4th in the NFCN, 8-8. lol, how does that align?? 🤔
Cuz it is all about the offense. Media doesn't pay attention to defense, we were 9-8 last year, winning games on defense alone with Brosmer at QB. But that doesn't matter, The Bears and Packers are darlings, the Lions (minus Ben Johnson and half their o-line) are somehow still a favorite.
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