Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Draft: Day 2 cornerback targets
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears Day 2 Cornerback Targets: Paulson Adebo, Stanford
One potential steal on the second day of the draft comes from Stanford, in 6-foot-1 rangy corner Paulson Adebo. Opting out of the 2020 season, Adebo has had a year or so now to prepare for the draft and do everything he can to be ready for the pros.
At Stanford, Adebo was one of the nation’s most impressive cornerbacks in the ball hawking department. He compiled a whopping 27 passes defensed between 2018 and 2019 while also intercepting a total of eight passes.
He possesses the size of a prototypical NFL cornerback and also has some long arms, which he uses to go up and pluck the ball out of the air or knock it away from opposing receivers. Physically, he is everything you want in a starting cornerback — a really impressive build.
Adebo has the instincts of a receiver, which is clear when you watch him on tape. He recognizes routes fairly easily which allows him to not only stick with receivers, but also to anticipate the throws from quarterbacks. That’s when he chooses to attack and go for the football.
Looking at Adebo, he has many similar traits as Jaylon Johnson. The Bears would definitely benefit by having two young corners that excel at defending the ball in the air, and aren’t afraid to be physical with pass catchers.