Colts 2016 player preview: Safety Mike Adams

The Indianapolis Colts will report to training camp on July 26 with their 90-man roster, which will be cut down to 53 players by the end of the preseason.  To pass the time until camp, we're taking a look at every player on the Colts' 90-man roster.  Today, we're looking at safety Mike Adams.

Who is he?

Mike Adams represents one of the biggest success stories for the Indianapolis Colts in the Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano era.  A journeyman veteran who was a late addition for the Colts in the 2014 offseason, Adams has since made back-to-back Pro Bowls while giving Indy very reliable play defensively.  He began his career as an undrafted free agent signing by the San Francisco 49ers in 2004, and he spent three seasons with the 49ers before being signed by the Cleveland Browns in 2007.  His next five seasons were spent with the Browns before the Denver Broncos signed him in 2012.  After two years with the Broncos, Adams hit the open market and was still a free agent in mid-June, when the Colts signed him.  Over the past two seasons with the Colts, Adams has started 39 games and has recorded 162 tackles, a sack, 17 passes defensed, ten interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries while on his way to his first two career Pro Bowl berths.  In his career, Adams has played in 175 games and started 102 of them, racking up 704 tackles, six sacks, 65 passes defensed, 23 interceptions (two scores), nine forced fumbles, and twelve fumble recoveries.

What is his role?

Adams is entering his third season as the starting safety of the Colts, as he is once again expected to fill that role in 2016.  The team is changing starters beside him (last year's starter, Dwight Lowery, left in free agency) and are counting on the veteran to help Clayton Geathers and the other young players learn and develop.  He has taken on a mentorship role this offseason and that is likely to continue into the season as well.  On the field, he still gives the Colts production and continues to be a turnover machine, so as long as he's still proving to be reliable he'll be starting next year.  At the same time, the 35 year old is entering the final year of his contract, and with the Colts drafting T.J. Green in the second round of this year's draft they might be looking long-term to Adams' replacement.  His future with the Colts beyond this year is murky, then, but his role as their starting safety in 2016 isn't.

What are his chances?

Just like in the past two seasons, Mike Adams will be starting at safety for the Colts this year.