The New York Giants made a big bet on Paulson Adebo adding veteran stability to the secondary this offseason, and if last season is any indication, he arrives in East Rutherford significantly battle tested.
Adebo, 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds, intercepted three passes while posting 52 total tackles in 2024, but Pro Football Focus points out that few defensive backs across the NFL faced more targets than the former New Orleans Saint did last season.
Ahead of his first season in Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s scheme, only Dee Alford was targeted more than Adebo was last season, on 21.84 percent of routes, and no corner was targeted more than the 25-year-old Adebo when he was lined up outside, with 22.46 percent of throws going his direction.
Even though Adebo only appeared in seven games, due to a broken femur suffered against the Denver Broncos, he held opposing quarterbacks to a meager 59.65 completion percentage when he was targeted, which has to be encouraging for Bowen, head coach Brian Daboll, and the Giants.
“More than 90% of [Adebo’s] 2024 snaps were at outside cornerback,” John Kosko writes for PFF. “His PFF grade on the outside is better than when he lines up in the slot.
“Adebo signed with the Giants this offseason on a three-year, $54 million contract due to being one of the NFL’s better cornerbacks at getting his hands on the ball. He has forced 32 incompletions across the past two seasons when lined up outside. Opposing teams likely see the boom-or-bust play style and recognize that he has allowed more than 1.35 yards per coverage snap in each of the past three seasons.”
Signing Adebo is the kind of move that general manager Joe Schoen and staff are hoping infuses the Giants’ secondary with a playmaker at a premium position.
Adebo’s ability to thrive while facing a significant amount of targets while flashing an ability to break up passes despite a boom-or-bust mentality could offer a significant upgrade in a secondary that’s counting on a mix of veterans and rising young stars to capitalize on the pressure generated up front by what New York hopes is one of the premier pass rushes in the league.
Paulson Adebo Aims to be ‘Ballhawk’ in Giants Secondary
Kevin C. Cox | Getty New York Giants cornerback Paulson Debo believes his ability to pull down interceptions could be a huge addition to the secondary.
Through his first four seasons, Adebo has pulled down 10 interceptions, and has sights set on adding to that total this fall.
“I think for me catching interceptions,” Adebo told reporters was his biggest goal, shortly after signing with the Giants earlier this spring. “Making plays on the ball is very important to be able to give the offense the ball back. That’s something I definitely pride myself on, something I really practiced as far as getting my head around, even catching jugs in practice, trying to catch as many balls as possible. I just know how impactful that can be for a team to help the team with.”
Last season, 30 other teams intercepted more passes than the Giants’ five, so it is easy to see why Schoen and New York so aggressively targeted a cornerback with Adebo’s ball skills, in free agency.
Even before the 2025 regular season kicks off, Adebo believes that he can have an impact on helping his fellow defensive backs climb the rankings in the turnover department.
“I think you just have to practice and visualize that,” Adebo explained. “That way you’re not surprised when the ball is in the air. You kind of turn into the receiver – a lot of times it’s easy to be shocked that the ball is coming to you. First off just expecting the ball to come to you. And then when you have the opportunity to make a play just really capitalizing on it.”
Giants and Jets Set to Hold Joint Practices
GettyHead Coach Brian Daboll may have found the anchor of the secondary after signing free agent safety Jevon Holland this offseason.
Later this summer, the Giants and Jets will hold joint practices ahead of the franchise’s annual clash in Week 2 of the preseason.
This year, one practice will be held in Florham park and the other in East Rutherford, according to Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
These practices provide significant value both for each team’s coaching staffs but also the front offices.
In an era where players see less and less playing time during exhibition games each season, the coaches and players traditionally have gotten more quality work and better evaluation done during the joint practices that have become commonplace across the league in recent seasons.
Likewise, as roster cut down day nears, general managers and front offices don’t just get the opportunity to see their own players against quality competition wearing a different uniform but also an up-close look at the players on the other team taking part in the practices. There’s a chance that the Giants could look to add a player or two off waivers who winds up released by the Jets, or vice-versa.
Fans attending either practice may also get their most extended look at both teams’ starters that week, so there’s plenty of motivation for these joint practices to become fixture of training camps each summer.
