Safety

The first reaction by many was . . .

“Why are the Jets signing Adrian Amos? They have plenty of safeties.”

Like Chuck Clark, Jordan Whitehead, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, Tre Dean, Marquis Waters and Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

But The Athletic’s Zach Rosenblatt announced Clark is believed to have suffered a serious knee injury in a practice last week.

So that explains it.

Amos, 30, started the last four years in Green Bay, not missing a game.

This is an example of why sometimes it’s best to wait in free agency if you aren’t getting offers you like.

Amos was getting low-balled since March, but then the unfortunate Clark injury occurs, and now Amos was able to get a one-year deal for up to $4 million from the Jets. The contract announcement was made by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

That sure beats the veteran minimum deals he was probably being offered.

Here is what I wrote about Amos in our free agency preview issue:

“Durable Penn State product who hasn’t missed a game the last five years, he had a career-high in tackles this past season with 102. He led the Packers in defensive snaps the last four years, so he rarely comes off the field. A high-character person, he does a lot of charity work helping underprivileged kids and also supporting Alzheimer’s research.”

It’s ironic that Amos is from Baltimore, and the Jets traded with Baltimore to get Clark.

When Amos came out of Penn State, he wowed some scouts with his size-speed ratio, when at 6-1, 218 he ran a 4.39 forty. He was picked in the fifth round of the 2015 draft by Chicago.

Now after eight seasons in the NFL, four in Chicago and then four in Green Bay, he probably doesn’t run 4.39 anymore, but if he lost a step, he might still run 4.5.

Why did he go in the fifth-round after wowing with that size-speed ratio coming out of Penn State?

Perhaps it was questions about his instincts. This is what NFL Network draft analyst Lance Zeirlein wrote about Amos before the 2015 draft:

• Average instincts
• Hyper-focused on responsibility and seems unwilling to take chances
• Would rather see it than sense it

So according to Zeirlien, he’s not a risk-taker.

You know what, that is okay. considering he was signed in June, and is late to the party as far as learning the Jets scheme. And since the minicamp was canceled, he will have to wait until late July to get on the field with the Jets.

So getting a veteran deep safety, who will safely cover the deep third, and not take chances, isn’t the worst thing in the world.

To get a guy like Amos in mid-June, is a blessing for the Jets.

While he’s not Troy Polamalu, he knows what he’s doing out there, and he will be good for the Jets locker room with his great character and work ethic.

And no, this wasn’t a signing another former Packer being signed to appease Aaron Rodgers.

This was probably the best safety still left on the street.

June 14, 2023

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