Despite participating fully in several practices later in the season, he never made it back to game action. This led the Packers to rely on Keisean Nixon as their primary cornerback, with Carrington Valentine opposite him and rookie Javon Bullard in the slot.
While this trio performed well, and I’m a huge Nixon supporter, the Packers need to bring in more high-level talent when Alexander departs. There’s an up-and-coming player in this year’s free-agent class who fits that need: Paulson Adebo.
Looking at the type of free agents that Brian Gutekunst has targeted since becoming general manager in 2018, he prefers players on the verge of their second contract. Gutekunst seeks players who have shown solid athleticism at the combine and have a proven NFL performance record. Adebo ticks all these boxes, making him an ideal target.
Adebo wrapped up his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints last year after being drafted 76th overall in 2021. At just 25, he’s about to enter his second NFL contract. If the Packers sign him to a three- or four-year deal, it would end before he turns 30.
Even at 25, Adebo brings significant experience, having played in 52 games, 51 of them as a starter. This blend of youth and experience is exactly what Green Bay needs to potentially step into the CB1 role or at least compete with Nixon for it. Nixon has expressed his desire for that spot, and competition could foster success, benefiting the entire defense.
Adebo also has solid athleticism, which should appeal to the Packers. He was ranked the fifth-best corner based on his production score at the 2021 combine, which measures a player’s college performance and athletic testing. His overall athleticism ranked 17th, and his combined score ranked 7th among all cornerbacks in that draft.
Scouts noted his tall, angular frame with impressive length and the size to handle press coverage—all qualities the Packers look for in their corners. Another box checked.
Adebo’s NFL performance should also attract the Packers’ interest. He’s been a starter from Day 1 for the Saints defense, which has been a strong unit since Drew Brees retired.
Though a mid-season injury limited him to just seven games last year, he recorded three interceptions and a 63.9 coverage grade. His most impressive stat, however, was his 91.5 pass-rush grade, which ranked 6th among cornerbacks. I can picture Hafley calling corner blitzes with him. His overall grade of 63.3 placed him 97th out of 223 qualifying players, and I believe he would have performed even better if he hadn’t been injured.
PFF gave him a solid 78.7 grade in his last full season, ranking 15th among cornerbacks. In weeks 8 to 10 last season, he had the highest cornerback rating in the league, with a 94.6 grade. His four interceptions in 2023 would have led a Packers defense that struggled with turnovers—Green Bay had only seven interceptions for the entire season.
Though the Packers made improvements in this area last year, largely thanks to safety Xavier McKinney, they could benefit from another ball-hawking cornerback. Adebo is entering his prime and playing his best football, making him a prime free-agent target.
Of course, contract terms will be crucial. Top cornerback options like D.J. Reed and Charvarius Ward likely won’t appeal to the Packers. Reed is older and shorter than the Packers typically prefer, while Ward is coming off a poor season and will soon be 29. Though both could be CB1 options in 2025, they don’t fit Green Bay’s free-agent profile like Adebo does.
Adebo’s injury history could impact his market value. A broken femur kept him to seven games last season, and that injury might cause some teams to hesitate before offering him a big contract. PFF ranks him as the 11th-best corner on the market and the 85th-best free agent overall. Spotrac estimates he’ll receive about $11 million per year on a one- or two-year deal to rebuild his value post-injury.
If that’s the case, I’d advise Brian Gutekunst to act fast and sign Adebo as his CB1 when free agency opens on March 12.
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