Los Angeles Chargers: Five-year history of the sixth pick in the NFL Draft
By Jason Reed
2017: Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
I specifically remember one thing about the 2017 NFL Draft: the excitement that I had for the Los Angeles Chargers to potentially draft Jamal Adams. And if he would have fallen to the seventh-overall pick then the team very well might have selected him instead of Mike Williams.
However, the New York Jets snagged him up one pick before the Chargers got their chance and Adams has more than justified that selection. It ended up working out, though, as this led to the Chargers drafting Derwin James the following year.
Adams is one of the best young safeties in the league with a punishing play style as the anchor of the Jets’ secondary. He is not a ballhawk in any way, as he only has two interceptions in three seasons, but is a punishing tackler that makes plays in open space and is a true difference-maker for the Jets.
Adams is a two-time Pro Bowler, being named in his second and third season and was named an All-Pro in his third season. While my biased answer is that Derwin James is still the better safety, the Chargers would have been more than okay with this selection.
There are some very talented players that were selected after Adams, but it is safe to say that the Jets made a good choice, even if there are some massive names selected in this draft.