The New York Giants face a critical moment in revitalizing their cornerback room, which has struggled significantly over the past decade due to inconsistent investments and evaluations. The signing of Paulson Adebo from the New Orleans Saints aims to change that dynamic, offering the Giants a chance to reshape their defense in 2024 and beyond with his skills.

Challenges Within the Giants’ Cornerback Group

The Giants’ cornerback position has long been unsettled, suffering from inadequate draft picks and development efforts. Since 2019, when DeAndre Baker was selected, the team made no significant early-round investments until 2023 with Deonte Banks. Despite Banks’ potential, the unit has seen a combination of poor drafting, limited player growth, and bad luck with injuries, leaving the position perpetually in flux.

Paulson Adebo’s Background and Recent Performance

Adebo joined the Giants on a three-year contract valued at $54 million, including nearly $35 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid players on the roster by 2025. His 2024 season with the Saints was inconsistent, and a broken femur prematurely ended his campaign. Throughout his time in New Orleans, Adebo was predominantly utilized on the left side of the defense, playing almost exclusively in that role both in 2023 and 2024.

In 2024, Adebo logged 381 snaps as an outside cornerback, with 374 on the left side. The previous year was even more skewed, with 842 of 847 snaps on that side. Such a deployment is common in zone-heavy defenses to minimize coverage breakdowns due to miscommunication, a style both the Saints and Giants favor, though they apply it differently.

Maximizing Adebo’s Abilities Through Scheme Adjustments

Adebo is widely regarded as a ball-hawking defender, excelling at forcing turnovers and making plays deep downfield. With the Saints running significantly more Cover 2 defense, Adebo’s role often kept him closer to the line of scrimmage rather than allowing him to exploit his vertical coverage skills.

In contrast, the Giants’ defensive scheme incorporates much more Cover 3 coverage, which should enable Adebo to operate farther down the field and utilize his strengths more effectively. While Adebo’s physicality benefits run defense and Cover 2 assignments, running more vertical coverage schemes aligns better with his natural playing style.

Complementing the Giants’ Defensive Strengths

Utilizing Adebo in a press-man coverage style enhances the Giants’ overall defensive potential, especially with cornerback Deonte Banks, who similarly excels in physical coverage. Their ability to challenge receivers at the line and then maintain tight man coverage vertically creates opportunities for the Giants’ pass rush to dominate.

The Giants typically employ Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone schemes, which allow cornerbacks to observe plays vertically before making a move. However, the unit has struggled with consistent execution. Adebo’s success will depend largely on the Giants’ willingness to adjust their approach and leverage his talents rather than force him to conform.

The Role of Shadow Coverage and Future Plans

During joint practices with the New York Jets, Adebo was seen shadowing the opponent’s top receiver, successfully limiting completions to standout wide receiver Garrett Wilson. This approach appears to be part of the Giants’ plan, as they intend to have Adebo follow the opposing team’s leading target rather than remain fixed on the left side.

Such shadowing responsibilities can allow Adebo to make the most impact, disrupting key passing options and strengthening the Giants’ secondary overall. The decision to let Adebo roam highlights the coaching staff’s intent to capitalize on his versatility and playmaking ability.

As the Giants move forward with their 2024 season, the effective integration and deployment of Paulson Adebo will be central to improving a cornerback room long in need of stability and star power. His presence, if correctly utilized in the team’s scheme, has the potential to elevate the entire defense and contribute meaningfully to the Giants’ competitiveness.