UNC head coach Bill Belichick is one of the greatest minds in football history, and the eight-time Super Bowl champion is apparently a big fan of New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo. The recently hired coach posted his “All-Belichick” Team on Instagram, and the impending free agent made a surprise appearance on the list. Despite playing only half the season, Adebo’s performance placed him in the same tier as elite cornerbacks Patrick Surtain, Derek Stingley, and Christian Gonzalez.
Paulson Adebo is not a household name, but his inclusion on this list suggests he will receive a massive contract when the league year officially starts. For what it’s worth, Belichick’s evaluation lines up with Jeremy Fowler’s report that multiple teams view the former third-round pick as one of the best players available. The Saints are trapped in salary cap hell and won’t keep up if a bidding war emerges for his services. If the price gets too high, don’t be surprised if he lands with a different NFC South team.
Former #Patriots head coach and current #UNC HC Bill Belichick reveals his 2024 All-Belichick Team via social media
Christian Gonzalez makes the list as the lone Patriot, joining fellow CBsPatrick Surtain, Derek Stingley Jr and Paulson Adebo
— Mike D’Abate (@mdabatenfl.bsky.social) February 14, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Paulson Adebo Receives High Praise From Bill Belichick Ahead of Free Agent Departure
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young played up to his potential in the back half of 2024, but his impressive play still resulted in an underwhelming five-win season. The responsibility for this poor season rests with the defense, as head coach Dave Canales and General Manager Dan Morgan effectively ignored that side of the ball while trying to increase Young’s odds of turning into a franchise quarterback. That was an understandable strategy last year, but now it’s time to build a well-rounded team that can compete in a weak NFC South.
Jaycee Horn made the Pro Bowl last year, but he can’t singlehandedly fix an entire defense. If the team signs Paulson Adebo and retains cornerback Michael Jackson, they should have three starting-caliber cornerbacks capable of holding their own against a wide variety of receivers. Once they secure the secondary, the Panthers must improve the front seven with cost-effective free agents and a high draft pick like Tennessee’s James Pierce. Nobody expects this unit to be on par with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, but an adequate defense should be enough to support an ascending Bryce Young.
Supporting Penix
The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are in similar boats. Much like their division rivals, the Falcons have a promising young quarterback in Michael Penix who thrived down the stretch surrounded by gifted playmakers and a sturdy offensive line. What they don’t have, however, is a defense, as the unit finished the 2024 season ranked 20th in EPA/play and 25th in dropback EPA/play. This team narrowly missed the postseason despite starting a physically limited Kirk Cousins for most of the season, so imagine what they could do with 17 games of Penix supported by an improved defense.
Bill Belichick loves Paulson Adebo, and the Atlanta Falcons should share this feeling. After all, as a division rival, this organization has had more than enough opportunities to see what Adebo can bring to the field. If Penix makes the Year 2 leap and the defense plays at even a league-average level, this team could surprise the NFL in 2025.
Main Photo: Jay Biggerstaff – Imagn Images
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