2 former Las Vegas Raiders found themselves with new homes on the same day, with the best timing they could have asked for
The Las Vegas Raiders are making roster moves before training camp, and some of their former players are making other teams, like Jamal Adams and Clelin Ferrell.
The Las Vegas Raiders saw two familiar names find new homes on Monday, as former Raiders safety Jamal Adams signed with the Minnesota Vikings and former Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell joined the Miami Dolphins.
Both moves came just days before training camps open across the NFL. The Raiders’ own camp is set to begin on Wednesday. Adams confirmed the signing on social media, posting “Year 10, #Skol.” The three-time Pro Bowler and former All-Pro selection was originally drafted 6th overall by the New York Jets in 2017. Las Vegas brought him in last season under then-coach Pete Carroll, who knew Adams from their time together in Seattle.
Adams played in 17 games for the Raiders, starting four. He recorded 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and two quarterback hits. The notable wrinkle was his role. He played more of a linebacker position than a traditional safety spot. And, he looked much better doing it than he had in recent years as a deep-field defender.
Adams never quite translated his college game to the NFL
Adams always had a ton of potential, but he never fully lived up to it. Injuries played a part, and he was never able to consistently cover at the NFL level. Even at strong safety, you have to be able to recover in coverage, and that part of his game never developed the way teams hoped. The move to linebacker gave him new life, and Minnesota is apparently betting on that version of Adams heading into 2025.
Clelin Ferrell lands with the Dolphins
The other former Raider finding a new home Monday was Ferrell, who signed with Miami after the Dolphins waived defensive lineman Khalil Saunders. Ferrell was drafted 4th overall by the Raiders in 2019 and actually played his rookie season in Oakland before spending four total years with the organization. In 58 games with the Raiders, he started 30 and recorded 10 sacks, 105 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.
Since leaving Las Vegas, Ferrell has bounced around. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Commanders, and then spent time with both the Los Angeles Chargers and the 49ers again. For his career, Ferrell has logged 21 sacks, 184 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 12 pass deflections, and four forced fumbles. If he ends up as a depth piece for Miami, that’s not a bad pickup at all, and that’s likely the role he’ll fill.
The Raiders have their own camp preparations to focus on, having made some signings of their own while also parting ways with fan favorite Laki Tasi and bringing in running back Miles Sanders for a workout. But the departures of Adams and Ferrell serve as a reminder that roster turnover never stops.
Once a Raider, always a Raider. That saying still applies to both of these players, even though their careers didn’t quite work out in Las Vegas.