Stanford cornerback Paulson Adebo was selected by the New Orleans Saints on Friday night with the 76th overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
"Paulson Adebo steps into a perfect situation in New Orleans," Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw said. "For two years, Paulson was the most productive corner in America! Now he steps into a great opportunity to get playing time from the very beginning! He is long, he is fast, and he has great ball skills… he is ready!"
Adebo, a native of Mansfield, Texas, is the first Cardinal cornerback to be drafted since Alex Carter was taken in the third round of the 2015 Draft by the Detroit Lions. He is the first Stanford player drafted by New Orleans since Andrus Peat in the first round of the 2015 Draft and the sixth all-time.
Adebo was a two-time All-Pac-12 first team selection, as he led the nation in passes defended (38) over his final two seasons on The Farm (2018-19).
As a junior in 2019, Adebo played in and started the first nine games of the season before an injury ended his year. In those nine games, he totaled 33 tackles, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions. He led the conference in passes defended per game and interceptions per game, while ranking third and eighth, respectively, in those categories nationally.
In 2018, Adebo earned FWAA All-American second team honors, playing in 13 games with 12 started. He led the nation, and set the school record, with 24 passes defended (20 breakups and four interceptions). He also finished third on the team with 64 tackles (44 solo), including 3.5 tackles for loss.
Adebo is the third Cardinal selected in the first 76 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft.