2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking the top ten cornerbacks

Projected Round: 2nd

Film Reviewed: Stanford vs Oregon, 2018

A highly coveted former four-star recruit, Paulson Adebo is next on my list out of Stanford. Adebo wrapped up his second season starting, amassing an impressive track record of 8 interceptions, 97 tackles and 27 passes deflected since the 2018 season.

Adebo was not considered a shutdown cornerback, from what I saw on film. I watched quarterback Justin Herbert test Adebo’s side of the ball numerous times during their game. Adebo held his own against the Oregon receivers but he definitely lost a few big plays thrown over his head.

The plays where Adebo was beat seemed to show a lack of preparedness at the catch point, in some instances looking to see where the ball was thrown just a second or two before the ball was caught. This appears to be a technique issue more than anything else and can hopefully be coached out of him at the next level.

The vast majority of plays where Adebo shut down his receiver showed a player who is elite in short and medium-length throws. In multiple plays, Adebo was able to jump the receiver’s route and knock the ball clear. Not the most physical cornerback you’re ever going to see, but plays with enough physicality to make you wonder whether this is how he normally plays or if this was how he was coached.

His tackling abilities leave a lot to be desired. On certain plays I watched him hurl his body at the receiver, sometimes bringing down the ball carrier, other times bouncing off him at weird angles. This once again points to poor technique and makes me wonder how good he could be if a tackling coach took the time to properly teach him how to do this.

At 6-foot-1 Adebo has the size and speed to be a role-playing cornerback in the NFL. His ability to attack the ball at the catch point makes me want to see more from the young cornerback. In the 2020 NFL draft, he is pound for pound as physically gifted as any of the other cornerbacks. And considering how often his side of the field was targeted, there is plenty of film to show Adebo is just as good as his peers when he knows the pass is coming his way.

Adebo is not a finished product. But if a team is confident in its abilities to coach a player proper technique and Adebo is willing to tweak his playstyle at the next level, Adebo could be a bargain for general managers in the second round.