Latest Tony Adams rumors are so ridiculous that Jets fans can only laugh

The New York Jets are likely planning on a major offseason rework of their defensive roster, which could lead to some of the old regime starters like safety Tony Adams being kicked out of town now that it's time to pay them.

Adams may need to pull an Ashtyn Davis, which means looking at one-year deals that could give him a shot to get back on the right track. Instead, according to some reporting from Jets insiders, there is a very real chance that Adams' bench-worthy play from 2025 somehow gets him a starting job.

Rich Cimini of ESPN is reporting that despite how badly he performed in the 2025 season, Adams is drawing interest from multiple teams on the open market as a starting safety. Did any of those teams really watch him try to make a tackle in open space?

If Adams gets a multi-year contract one year after the Washington Commanders foolishly gave a backup defensive tackle in Javon Kinlaw $45 million over three years to go an entire season without a single sack, logic will have officially gone out the window.

Jets safety Tony Adams may earn multi-year contract in free agency

In the first two years of his Jets career, Adams was a Robert Saleh success story after he developed from an undrafted free agent to a quality starting safety. In 2024 and 2025, Adams regressed to the point where he became one of the biggest liabilities on this team.

Not only did the Jets sign a veteran in Andre Cisco to make up for Adams' regression, but fourth-round rookie Malachi Moore clearly outplayed him. Adams' biggest issue is as a tackler, as he was one of the worst-graded defensive backs in the league in the open field.

It has been multiple seasons since Adams has looked like a quality starting safety, and the fact that he performed as badly as he did for a coach in Aaron Glenn, who helped Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph become elite at the position, could be a sign that his time as a starter in this league is done.

Between Kinlaw and Adams reportedly in line for big paydays after performing poorly with the Jets, Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur both getting head coaching jobs this cycle, and even Nathaniel Hackett resurfacing, the league seems to believe that getting away from New York is a stronger performance-enhancer than any chemical concoction.