When the New York Giants signed Paulson Adebo to a three-year, $54 million deal this offseason, they weren’t just buying the guy he was in New Orleans. They were betting on the guy he could be in New York.
For most of his time with the New Orleans Saints, Adebo was stapled to the left side of the defense, not because he couldn’t move around, but because Marshon Lattimore didn’t. That’s not the case anymore. There’s no side hierarchy happening here. No “CB1 calls dibs” politics. The G-Men didn’t bring Adebo in to be a passenger — they brought him in to steer the thing. And right now, the wheel’s in his hands.
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Adebo’s already drawing the toughest assignments in camp. During joint practices with the Jets, he lined up all over the formation following Garrett Wilson around, knocking away practically everything thrown his way. He’s no longer playing a "this is my side, get your own" role. Brian Daboll is using him based on matchups, and he’s looked comfortable wherever they’ve put him.
Paulson Adebo’s role in Giants defense is already bigger than advertised
There could be somewhat of a transition period. During his four years in the Big Easy, he lined up on the left nearly 95% of the time. That's a lot of time spent only operating one side of the field, but the recently signed corner doesn't believe his talents are bound to one side of the field.
Adebo said it best himself: “Yeah, I think for me, obviously in New Orleans, I played a lot on the left side but that’s just because we had (New Orleans Saints cornerback, Marshon) Lattimore on the other side... So definitely, I feel like I can play on both sides. And so, it’s not something that I focus too much on.”
That kind of flexibility matters. It lets defensive coordinator Shane Bowen do more with coverage schemes, hide tendencies, and prevent teams from picking on the weaker side of the field (cough, Deonte Banks, cough).
He won't have to reinvent the wheel. Across 52 games with New Orleans, Adebo recorded 43 passes defensed and 10 interceptions. Even after a fractured femur ended his 2024 season early, he still led the team in picks when he went down. His footwork, instincts, and length make him a problem against bigger receivers. For a Giants defense that often looked inept last year, the 26-year-old could be the start of a much-needed turnaround.
The $54 million man put it best: “No matter who you're guarding, the job doesn't change,” he said. And with all the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the cornerback room heading into 2025, it's a refreshing stance. Now they just need the rest of the room to catch up.