Despite his injury, New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo should be one of the top defensive backs on the free agent market. Following a breakout 2023 where his 78.6 PFF grade ranked 15th out of 127 eligible players, the 2021 third-round pick entered the season starting opposite Marshon Lattimore. However, a broken femur limited him to seven games, three interceptions, 52 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and one quarterback hit.
While he is still recovering from surgery, the cornerback recently said he is progressing well and expects to be back for training camp. However, he might not be on the Saints roster at that point in time. During that same interview, Paulson Adebo acknowledged he could leave as a free agent as he chooses what’s best for his future.
“At the end of the day, it’s a business. I love New Orleans, I love the opportunity they gave me. So there’s no ill intent or animosity. It’s really just about finding the best fit. If it’s the best fit here, then boom. It’s a two-way street, it’s not completely up to me. It has to work both ways.”
Only time will tell what type of deal Paulson Adebo receives, but the Saints will probably struggle to retain the free agent. The organization is in salary cap hell and won’t be able to match a top offer from a cornerback-needy team like the Carolina Panthers or New England Patriots.
Saints Could Lose Free Agent Paulson Adebo to Panthers, Patriots
While the Carolina Panthers finished the season with an underwhelming 5-12 record, it’s hard to consider the first year of the Dave Canales Era as anything other than a complete success. After watching first-round pick Bryce Young struggle in a horrible environment, Carolina spent the 2024 offseason building the offense. That mission succeeded, so now it’s time for the Panthers to build a defense capable of supporting a promising young quarterback.
First-round pick Jaycee Horn stayed healthy and made a Pro Bowl last year, but the cornerback can only do so much on his own. Carolina should add another defensive back even if they bring back the surprisingly successful Mike Jackson. Paulson Adebo is a perfect free agent fit, as the Panthers should be familiar with what their current division rival brings to the table. Adding Adebo and one or two starters to the front seven should give the Panthers a serviceable defense, which might be enough to win a weak NFC South.
Rebuilding In New England
The two most important pieces of any rebuild are quarterback and head coach. The Patriots have those in UNC’s Drake Maye and old friend Mike Vrabel, respectively. Now, it’s time for them to fix the rest of the roster. 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez was the one good thing about New England’s defense last year, as the Florida product played like a top cornerback throughout the season. Now, it’s time for New England to bolster the rest of their depth chart and find him an adequate counterpart.
Marcus Jones is a fine player, but his smaller frame prevents him from being an adequate full-time starter. Paulson Adebo could easily handle CB2 duties on this defense, and the free agent shouldn’t bankrupt an organization that leads the NFL with a staggering $120 million in cap space.
Main Photo: Jay Biggerstaff – USA Today Sports
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