The New York Giants agreed to a three-year deal, $54 million deal ($36 million guaranteed) Monday with former New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo, The Athletic confirmed. Adebo came in at No. 36 on The Athletic’s Top 150 free agent rankings.

How he fits

The 25-year-old Adebo will be a huge addition to a Giants cornerback room that desperately needed a proven commodity. He played in just seven games in 2024 due to a broken femur but was enjoying an excellent season before the injury: He’d tallied 52 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and three interceptions. While obviously talented, the injury is a lingering question, though he’s been posting videos to social media showing his progress, including a recent one that featured a backflip. Adebo has an impressive resume, even beyond 2024. In 2023, Adebo tallied four interceptions and 18 pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, Adebo has led the NFL in forced incompletions over the past two seasons.

In an early look at the 2025 free agency class, Adebo was slotted 20th in our rankings, largely due to his length, ability to diagnose plays quickly and top-tier ball skills. “Adebo also possesses unusual patience and poise at the moment of truth, which is difficult for a corner who is under stress,” we wrote. That patience could be a great example for New York’s younger position room.

Despite suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7, Paulson Adebo allowed the 3rd-fewest EPA when targeted among all CBs during the 2024 season (-25.6).

Adebo recorded 10 passes defensed in Weeks 1-7, tied for the 3rd-most in the NFL.@Giants | #TogetherBlue https://t.co/djZiv7FJQV pic.twitter.com/8denB4RBiz

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 10, 2025

2025 impact

The Giants desperately needed a high-quality veteran cornerback that would allow them to move Deonte Banks back into the No. 2 role. Banks, the franchise’s first-round selection in 2023, moved into the No. 1 corner role this past season and struggled to deliver with the added responsibility. Beyond lackluster production, the biggest issues for Banks came with coaches openly questioning his on-field effort. He was benched during one game because of it. With Adebo’s arrival, the Giants can slide Banks back into the No. 2 role and not put nearly as much pressure on Banks while hoping he takes a big step forward in Year 3. The Giants still have Dru Phillips, who impressed in his rookie season, as the starting slot corner, giving them a solid starting group. The Giants also have Cor’Dale Flott, who is best suited as a backup who can play multiple roles.  

Cap update

Adebo agreed to a three-year, $54 million deal with $36 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. It’s a deal that reflects Adebo’s anticipated role as the Giants’ new No. 1 CB. According to the NFLPA, the Giants entered the day with $47.1 million in cap space. While that means they have plenty of space to work with for now, they still don’t have a starting QB under contract. So that cap space will shrink significantly depending on which QB (if any) they sign. But cornerback was and is going to show up in the books as a top priority.

Outlook

For the Giants, this offseason is all about quarterback, but cornerback was the No. 1 need on defense. Assuming all is good for Adebo health-wise, Adebo, Banks, Phillips and safety Tyler Nubin are the future of the Giants’ secondary.

(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)