Paulson Adebo | CB | Stanford
Height | 6-1
Weight | 190
Strengths
Teams like length at the cornerback position, and Adebo certainly fits that criterion.
His 6-foot-1 frame bears lengthy arms and the size to match up physically with some of the league’s taller wide receivers. Adebo has the physicality in his skill set to jam receivers in press-man coverage, and he does a very good job of using his hands to counter release techniques and shut his opponents down. He is also a willing tackler who takes good angles and possesses the play strength to bring ball carriers down.
Adebo is more than just a big and physical corner, though, as he blends intelligence and athleticism into his game, as well. He is a patient defender who times his jumps on routes very well and fires out of his stance with great acceleration for his size. His hip fluidity is intriguing: he flips his hips with ease and has the athleticism to mirror his receivers’ routes consistently. If you’re looking for ball production, Adebo has that, too, as he has topped four interceptions and at least 10 pass deflections in each of his two seasons as a starter.
Weaknesses
Adebo did not see any playing time during his freshman year. Though he has been productive since, there are some flashes of his relative inexperience at times. His ball production is impressive, but there are times when he can be late to turning his head towards the ball and tracking it down on deep throws, thus impacting his ability to make a play on a more consistent basis.
He shows promise as a tackler, but his form could still use a little bit of work. His footwork in press-man coverage isn’t incredibly consistent yet, so considering he will likely spend a lot of his time in that role in the NFL, he should work on not wasting any steps at the line of scrimmage.
Bottom Line
Adebo is a length, physical and athletic cover man who has the physical tools that teams love at the outside cornerback position. His upside makes him one of the best prospects at his position in this draft class.
