Annually, a brand new crop of gamers rises to the ranks of the elite at their respective positions. Whether or not it’s due to new teaching, being unlocked in a brand new scheme or simply the overall continuation of growth and development, new gamers set up their place within the higher echelon of the NFL yearly. Over the subsequent few days, we’ll be highlighting these gamers who’re up subsequent within the NFL hierarchy, and are candidates for a breakout season in 2024.
When the New Orleans Saints draft a defensive again, it’s finest that you just hold your eyes on them. The Saints have a historical past of bringing in high quality defensive backs and turning them into stars of their man protection heavy system. Marshon Lattimore and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson undoubtedly come to thoughts when occupied with latest hits in New Orleans’ secondary.
Quickly it is possible for you to so as to add Paulson Adebo to that record. Adebo was more healthy final season, and he made essentially the most of his alternatives on the surface. Adebo performed in and began 15 video games for the Saints, and his play took off. He led the Saints in interceptions and go deflections, and with Lattimore lacking time resulting from harm, Adebo stepped as much as defend many of the prime receivers New Orleans confronted. Now getting into a contract 12 months, Adebo could be set to play his finest soccer of his profession, a wanted enhance for a Saints workforce that’ll greater than seemingly be superb on protection once more.
Adebo is a clean man nook, who trusts his velocity and prime seventieth percentile wingspan in protection on the surface. In New Orleans’ man and quarters’ heavy scheme, he’s typically left to fend for himself on the surface, and holds up very well. Adebo completed the 2023 season eleventh in Yards per Protection Snap in man protection for all outdoors cornerbacks, which divides the whole yardage allowed as the first defender from the whole snaps performed. So on a per snap foundation, Adebo was limiting yards allowed as the first defender at probably the greatest charges within the NFL. In case you stack that on prime of his ball manufacturing, you get a man who put collectively a few of his finest soccer in 2023. Adebo’s instincts actually come out when he’s in off protection and capable of learn out the play earlier than triggering downhill, identical to he did on this curl route in opposition to the Buccaneers. He doesn’t panic in any respect, breaks on the ball and nearly will get a select of it.
Adebo is a soccer participant; sure, I do know that looks like an apparent factor to say, however while you watch him play he simply is aware of find out how to make performs on the ball. He’s received good timing and might modify to no matter offenses throw at him with unbelievable velocity. That is one among my favourite performs he made all season, breaking off of the crossing route he was initially protecting and changing S Tyrann Mathieu because the deep defender in cowl 1 and making the PBU.
Adebo excels in all these coverages, the place he can learn the play out after which react based mostly on what the offense exhibits him. Nonetheless, he generally flashes the power to jostle go catchers on the catch level and struggle by way of to make performs on the ball. Whereas he generally struggles in opposition to larger physique receivers, Adebo holds his personal and fights by way of for interceptions and go breakups.
This exhibits up lots on in-breaking dig routes the place the receiver has to declare the route as an alternative of working one thing like a deep over route with much less of a break. Adebo can set off down and struggle by way of to get an interception, identical to he does right here. He takes the bump on the in-breaker and makes the play.
Adebo is such a sensible participant, who thrives on the surface utilizing these instincts and playmaking skill to their finest. Within the Saints’ defensive scheme, he’s the proper nook to tackle opposing receivers. The place I feel he can enhance is in opposition to larger bodied receivers. He tends to try to use his physicality on the prime of the stem in opposition to bigger receivers and will get placed on the improper facet of a spotlight, but when he can trim a few of that the sky is the restrict.
So far in Adebo’s profession, it’s protected to say he’s turn out to be underrated. Nonetheless, the ball expertise and manufacturing he confirmed at Stanford are lastly coming to mild with him being wholesome. The Saints’ defensive again group is already sturdy with Lattimore nonetheless there, together with Alontae Taylor and rookie CB Kool-Support McKinstry. Nonetheless, it’s Adebo who can turn out to be the breakout star from that secondary and put his title among the many finest on the CB place.
