Vernon Adams keeps his NFL options open
Figuratively speaking, former Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is still in the pocket, looking for an opportunity.
He has plenty.
His name wasn’t called in last week’s NFL draft, but Adams immediately landed a rookie minicamp spot with the Seattle Seahawks. He also has a tryout planned with the Washington Redskins.
That softened the sting of the draft, which saw 15 quarterbacks chosen while Adams – the highest-rated passer in the nation last year with Oregon – went empty-handed.
Moments after the draft, David Steele of The Sporting News called Adams “the most notable snub this year.”
Adams was disappointed but not necessarily surprised; he’s still 5-foot-11, 200-pounds.
“Ain’t nothin’ changed, I been going through this all my life,” Adams said on Twitter after the draft concluded.
“I’m blessed to have made it this far,” Adams said.
He’s made it this far with decent speed and escapability in the pocket, good decision-making (he threw 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions last year), a good deep ball and moves quickly through his progressions.
That probably attracted the Seahawks, who’ve won a Super Bowl with 5-foot-11 quarterback Russell Wilson and thus have a system that would also cater to Adams’ skill set.
Moreover, Wilson could become Adams’ mentor, as he’s faced similar doubters in college and early in his NFL career.
If Adams fails to land in the NFL, he’ll could find a spot in nearby Vancouver, British Columbia.
The B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League hold the rights to Adams should he want to play in the CFL. Along with former Notre Dame and Florida State star Everett Golson (who’s 5-11, 197 pounds), Adam is considered a potential CFL quarterback.
“If Vernon Adams ever chose to come to the CFL, a team better jump all over that opportunity because he would be a star,” a front-office member of one CFL team told Yahoo Sports Canada this week.
However, Neil McEvoy, the Lions’ director of football operations and player personnel, believes it’s not a slam dunk that Adams or Golson will head north in the immediate future.
“They’re both good athletes,” McEvoy said. “Fifteen or even 10 years ago both of these guys would probably be directed to the Canadian Football League and already signed,” explained McEvoy.
“But because the NFL is looking at all players and trying to fit these guys into their programs, these guys will both get a look,” McEvoy said.