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By Charlie Campbell
Weaknesses:
Summary: Adams broke into the starting lineup for the Huskies at left tackle in 2015. The freshman started nine games on the blind side before missing the final two games of the season with an injury. Adams was improved in 2016, becoming an All-Pac-12 First-Team selection. The sophomore started all 14 games at left tackle and contributed to a prolific Huskies offense that led Washington to a spot in the college football playoff. Adams finished that season with a quality performance against Alabama, and some team sources said they were impressed with how he played against a bunch of Crimson Tide edge rushers who went on to be early-round picks.
Adams had a mixed start to the 2017 season against Rutgers before playing better in the weeks after that. However, his season ended in October when he tore an ACL. That injury led to Adams returning for another year even though he still could have been a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 2018 season was another lost year to injury for the most part. Adams had surgery for a back injury and missed a large portion of the season. He eventually returned to the field late in the year, playing reasonably well considering what he was coming back from, and taking on players who were in mid-season form. In 2019 as a senior, Adams had a solid season. He had a mixed outing against Utah’s Bradley Anae, but overall, Adams was a steady blindside protector for Jacob Eason.
As a pass blocker, Adams has quality feet and length to neutralize speed rushes with an impressive ability to get depth in his drop. He does a nice job of keeping his feet moving and is able to play the typewriter while gliding with edge rushers. Many tall tackles struggle to bend at the knee, but Adams shows some ability there. He doesn’t get caught in concrete all that often and does a nice job of moving with defenders, so he doesn’t have to reach after them coming around the corner. Adams also has enough strength and size to stonewall bull rushers and hold his ground.
In the ground game, Adams can get a push at the point of attack. His size overwhelms some defenders at the point of attack, and he is able to knock defenders back to open holes in their gaps. Adams’ speed and athletic ability can be seen, as he is surprisingly quick to get out for blocks on perimeter runs. He has a burst to the second level and uses his agility to hit blocks in space. On screens, Adams is superb to get out from the tackle box while getting in position to hit blocks downfield.
During the fall of 2017, one college scouting director said they had a higher grade on Adams than they did on Garett Bolles in 2016, who was the first tackle taken in the 2017 NFL Draft. Some team sources weren’t as high on Adams and felt he was a better fit as a right tackle in the NFL. One area scout said they had Adams graded behind Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard, who was a late first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by Philadelphia.
In the 2020 NFL Draft, Adams looks like a potential second-day pick. His play tape would have him there, but his extensive injury history could cause him to slide, and some teams won’t draft him because they have flunked him medically not believing he can stay healthy in the NFL.
Player Comparison: Cordy Glenn. Adams was a tough player to compare because he has a unique body type and track record. Glenn (6-6, 345) is similar size and has been a solid starter in the NFL, but has also had some injuries.
RELATED LINKS:
2020 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s
2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2020 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
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