Should the 49ers Sign Jamal Adams to Play Linebacker?

Adams isn't big enough to be a starting linebacker, but that's why the 49ers signed De'Vondre Campbell.

The 49ers need another outside linebacker and Jamal Adams is available. Should they sign him?

Technically, Adams is a strong safety -- that's the position he played for the Seahawks and the Jets. But he's not good at playing far away from the line of scrimmage. He has been exposed in coverage repeatedly -- just look at the photo above. But he can be effective when he plays in the box as a linebacker.

Adams isn't big enough to be a starting linebacker, but that's why the 49ers signed De'Vondre Campbell. He's a big, classic, run-stuffing linebacker who struggled big time in coverage -- not his fault, he's almost 32. But the 49ers cannot keep him on the field when they play their nickel defense on third down, because teams will target and shred him.

Which means the 49ers need a nickel linebacker, someone who can platoon with Campbell and cover running backs and tight ends.

That's Adams. His days playing safety in the league are likely over, but he might return to Seattle this offseason to play linebacker, according to the Seahawks. So I'm not the first person to think of changing Adams' position.

10 years ago when Eric Mangini was the 49ers defensive coordinator, he used a rookie Jaquiski Tartt as a nickel linebacker and he was quite effective in this role. It's always clever to put a safety at outside linebacker on passing downs to make the pass coverage faster and more effective.

The 49ers clearly need a nickel linebacker. They could draft one, or they could simply sign Adams.

I'd sign Adams.