3 best moves the Saints made in the NFL Draft
1. Paulson Adebo
The Saints waited all the way until Round 3 to make a pick with solid value. They traded up to get Adebo because they desperately needed to find a player capable of starting right away at corner. The former Stanford Cardinal lacks star potential, but he should be able to help New Orleans right away on the outside.
Most draft experts believed the Saints would target a cornerback earlier in the draft. That shouldn’t detract from Adebo’s ability to help right away. He’s a good athlete with the size required to hold up on the outside. He lacks the elite burst or quickness to play inside against high-level slot receivers, but won’t be asked of him in New Orleans.
Expect Adebo to battle with Patrick Robinson for the starting cornerback spot opposite Marshon Lattimore. The reality is that both players will get plenty of snaps in 2021. Adebo is the better long-range prospect but Robinson might have the slight edge early on due to his experience.
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Adebo was a decent pick for the Saints, but the fact that he resides at the No. 1 spot on this list just illustrates how weak New Orleans’ draft class really is. He’ll need to play like an All-Pro to make up for all of the front office’s other mistakes on the weekend.