The breakup between the Green Bay Packers and star cornerback Jaire Alexander is almost a foregone conclusion this offseason. The signs have been pointing in that direction since the weird 10-snap performance against the Chicago Bears in November. That could be the last time he suits up for the Packers.
Even as a full participant in several practices later in the season, he never saw game action again. That left the Packers to roll with Keisean Nixon as the de facto No. 1 corner, with Carrington Valentine opposite him and rookie Javon Bullard manning the slot.
That trio played admirably, and I’m as big of a Nixon fan as you’ll find. Still, the Packers must add more high-level talent once Alexander is officially out the door. And there happens to be a young, ascending player at that position in this year’s free-agent class: Paulson Adebo.
Consider the type of free agent Brian Gutekunst has targeted since taking over as general manager in 2018. He loves players who are about to sign their second contract. Gutekunst wants players who tested as at least a decent athlete at the combine and have a proven track record of performance in the NFL. Adebo checks all those boxes, making him the perfect target.
Adebo finished his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints last year after they took him 76th overall in 2021. At only 25 years old, Adebo would be entering his second NFL contract. If they sign him to a moderate-length contract, like a three- or four-year deal, it would end before he turns 30.
Even at 25, he brings a wealth of veteran experience, having played in 52 career games, 51 of them as a starter. That’s the unique mix of youth and experience that Green Bay needs to step in immediately and take over the CB1 role – or at least compete for that role with Nixon. Nixon has already clearly stated his desire for that spot. Competition can breed success, so adding high-quality options to the CB1 battle can benefit the whole defense.
Adebo also grades out as a good athlete, which should interest the Packers. He tested out as the fifth-ranked corner from a production score standpoint at the 2021 combine.
The production score is calculated based on a player’s college-level performance. Evaluators use it to judge their projected NFL success alongside their athletic testing results at the combine. His athleticism score ranked 17th, and his totaled score ranked seventh among all corners in that year’s draft.
Adebo’s scouting report described him as a tall, angular body type with great length and the size and strength to beat up the press release. All are qualities that the Packers look for in their corners. Another box checked.
His track record of performance at the NFL level should also pique Green Bay’s interest. Adebo has been a Day 1 starter for the Saints defense, which has been their strong point after Drew Brees retired.
Before a mid-season injury limited Adebo to seven games last season, he snagged three interceptions and posted a 63.9 coverage grade. However, the most impressive part of his game might be a 91.5 pass-rush grade. That’s good for sixth-best at the cornerback position. I can’t help but have visions of Hafley calling corner blitzes with him. A 63.3 overall grade put him at 97th of 223 qualifying players. I suspect he would have graded out higher if he had logged a full season without injury.
PFF gave him a 78.7 grade in his last full season, good for 15th in the league among corners. In Weeks 8 through 10 last season, he was the highest-rated corner in football, with a 94.6 grade in those three weeks. His four interceptions in 2023 would have ranked first on a Green Bay defense that sorely needed help with turnovers. That team managed only seven interceptions all season.
The Packers improved in that category last year. However, it was mostly due to safety Xavier McKinney. Green Bay could benefit from adding another ball hawk at corner. Adebo is hitting the market at the right time. He’s playing his best football and entering his prime.
As with any free agent, it will come down to contract terms. The top options at the position hitting the market, players such as D.J. Reed and Charvarius Ward, will likely not be very interesting to the Packers. Reed is on the older side and is smaller than the Packers like their corners to be at 5’9”, and Ward is coming off his worst season and will also be 29 in May. Although both could step in and be CB1 in 2025 without a doubt, neither fit Green Bay’s free-agent profile like Adebo.
Adebo’s injury history will hurt his market value. A broken femur limited him to seven games last year, and that type of injury might scare off some suitors from handing him significant money. In their position-by-position free-agent breakdown, PFF has him listed as the 11th-best cornerback option on the market and the 85th-best free agent. Spotrac estimates he’ll get around $11 million a year on a one- or two-year deal to help rebuild some of his value after the injury.
If that’s the case, if I’m Brian Gutekunst, I’m running to the phone to sign Adebo to be my CB1 when free agency starts on March 12.
