USAT: Saints Wire audio clip

USAT: Saints Wire

Feb 4, 2022

- - - The New Orleans Saints had to have enjoyed the returns on picking Paulson Adebo in the third round. He ended up starting all 17 games as a rookie and didn’t back down from any competition, whether it was the players the Saints brought in to push him for that starting job or the elite wide receivers lining up against him each week. He ran the gauntlet and came out the other side ready for more. - We knew that he had ball skills after bagging 34 passes defensed in 22 games at Stanford, but it’s good to see that validated. Adebo and Marcus Williams each had 8 passes defensed in 2021, tying for second place behind Marshon Lattimore’s stunning total (19). And Adebo was part of a four-way tie for the team lead in interceptions (3), along with Lattimore, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and P.J. Williams. He dropped another would-be pick in Week 18’s road win over the Atlanta Falcons. - And he did a ton of learning on the job. Adebo’s 577 snaps in coverage were the fourth-most in New Orleans. He was thrown at 80 times, yielding 52 receptions for 733 receiving yards. His seven penalties (one declined) were part of the process as he learned what he could and couldn’t get away with at the pro level. All of that experience should help him become a better player in 2022. - Of course we need to remember that growth isn’t linear. He could very well continue playing volatile football, with as many positive plays as negative moments. Opposing offenses are going to have a better idea of how to attack him. Quarterbacks and their receivers will have a full season’s worth of game tape to study in looking for his tendencies. It’s going to fall on Adebo and his coaches to make sure he’s not just ready for that in his second season — he’s got to be ready to take his own next step. Even with the negative plays, which you’d expect of a rookie starter in football’s most challenging position, I’ve got to grade his performance an A. - - List - - Ranking the top Saints team needs in 2022 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Saints Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Saints Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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