2017 NFL Mock Draft: First-round projections after Week 14
48. . S. LSU. Jamal Adams. 18. player
How good is Jamal Adams? Well, CBS gave him the high praise of calling him Honey Badger 2.0. If you’re not familiar with who that is, it’s former LSU Tiger safety Tyrann Mathieu who happens to be one of the best defenders in the league for Arizona.
Take a look at what Rob Rang of CBS Sports had to say about him:
"And while earning comparisons to the great Honey Badger is quite the compliment, frankly, it isn’t enough. At six-foot, 211 pounds, Adams is considerably bigger than the 5-foot-9, 186 pound Arizona Cardinals standout and is a much cleaner prospect off the field than Mathieu was at LSU, as well. Whereas Mathieu’s repeated failed drug tests led to his suspension from LSU and his slip on draft day, the folks at LSU can’t speak highly enough about Adams, who was the first player of the Les Miles era to ever be named a team captain for a game (Louisiana-Monroe) as a true freshman."
If that isn’t the highest praise a safety can get, I don’t know what is. Saying he’s a better prospect than Mathieu was is one thing, but going as far as saying comparing him to the Honey Badger just isn’t enough is enticing.
Tampa Bay has been a surprise team this season but the secondary will need some help at the safety position. If, by some wild scenario such as the one I’ve created, Adams falls to this spot, there’s no way the Buccaneers pass on him.