Saints CB Paulson Adebo named the team's most underappreciated player from 2023
The New Orleans Saints defense had plenty of inconsistencies in 2023. Their secondary found constant success, though. They forced turnovers and limited many of the league's best passing attacks throughout the season. Even without Marshon Lattimore for much of the season, they performed well. Guys just stepped up. Tom Blair of NFL.com recently listed the […]
The New Orleans Saints defense had plenty of inconsistencies in 2023. Their secondary found constant success, though. They forced turnovers and limited many of the league's best passing attacks throughout the season. Even without Marshon Lattimore for much of the season, they performed well. Guys just stepped up.
Tom Blair of NFL.com recently listed the NFL’s most underappreciated players for the NFC. His choice for the Saints should not surprise anyone.
Cornerback Paulson Adebo got the nod for the Saints
Adebo turned into one of the best players on the Saints roster in 2023, not just the defense. Without their top CB on the depth chart, he emerged to fill that role. He consistently locked down top wideouts and produced at the top of the CB position around the league.
“One highlight of the Saints’ forgettable 2023 season was the pass defense — and one player who shined individually within that unit was Adebo, a second-year pro who tied for the team lead in picks (four). He also ranked third in the NFL in passes defensed (18) and posted the 10th-best passer rating allowed (58.5), according to NGS (min. 400 coverage snaps). Whether or not Derek Carr and the offense can fully cohere after an up-and-down 2023 is still uncertain, but Adebo is one of a handful of young standouts (along with Carl Granderson, Bryan Bresee and Alontae Taylor) who can help keep New Orleans competitive on D while Carr and Co. try to take a step forward.”
— Blair via NFL.com
He totaled the 76 combined tackles, 18 passes defended, and 4 interceptions during his 2023 campaign.
Adebo is entering the last year of his rookie contract.
The Saints may look to extend him during the season, but there's seemingly no rush to do so yet. If Adebo has another season like his last, though, New Orleans will have to take a long look at bringing him back long-term.
Keep in mind that the Saints also drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry in round two of the 2024 NFL Draft. Could he be the replacement of the future for Adebo? We shall see.
