2020 NFL Draft: Top 10 most athletic prospects by position

Cornerback: Paulson Adebo, Stanford

Similar to Stanford product Richard Sherman, Paulson Adebo is a physical cover 3 corner who can match up in man-to-man coverage when called upon. Adebo possesses great ball skills similar to the All-Pro corner and has the frame to handle a variety of matchups on the outside. Adebo uses an over-top coverage technique that focuses on staying above his man and breaking down on the ball once it is released.

Adebo is a ball-first corner, meaning his focus is to play the ball and not the receiver. This high-risk style of play has yielded great success for him, showing off his 6’1” frame and quick reflexes. When playing the ball over the man, the risk of in-traffic catches is removed, but there is an elevated chance for yards after the catch when this is done in the middle of the field on a well-placed throw.

Adebo provides a physical presence on the back-end that can disrupt passing concepts and give defenses a weapon to guard a side of the field.

Adebo’s underneath coverage has also proven to be quality, showing great break on the ball and consistent tackling. If Adebo were to use a chase coverage technique instead of his over-the-top cover 3 coverage, many of these passes could be placed in his blind-spot and into the hands of a waiting receiver.

Cover 3 base coverages have become commonplace in NFL secondaries since the ‘Legion of Boom,’ and Adebo fits the model perfectly. This play style will serve him well at the next level and draw a number of comparisons to Stanford alumni Richard Sherman.