This expensive New York Giants player may have already lost his job.
Back in March 2025, the New York Giants signed cornerback Paulson Adebo to a three-year, $54 million contract in free agency.
The hope was that Adebo — who was very impressive with the New Orleans Saints for four seasons — would become the Giants' clear No. 1 corner and help solidify an ailing secondary.
That certainly has not been the story thus far.
Adebo labored during his debut campaign in New York, missing five games due to injury and making minimal impact during the time he was on the field.
To make matters worse, the 26-year-old skipped part of the Giants' voluntary offseason program, which surely did not make new head coach John Harbaugh very happy.
What exactly was going through Adebo's mind when he decided to take an extended vacation instead of getting to work after such a rough year is mind boggling.
On top of all of that, Adebo seems to have lost his grip on a starting job. Not just as the No. 1 cornerback; but as a starter, period.
New York Giants cornerback Paulson Adebo. Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images.Dan Duggan of The Athletic has reported that Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks have actually gotten the most first-team reps for New York in training camp. Yes; Banks, the former first-round bust, actually appears to be ahead of Adebo.
"That he has moved ahead of Adebo is telling about how disappointing the big-money corner has been," Duggan wrote. "Adebo has given up far too many completions in camp for a supposed No. 1 corner, and his standing on the depth chart reflects the coaching staff’s dissatisfaction with his play."
Don't think for a second that Adebo's decision to skip workouts earlier in the spring hasn't played a serious role in Harbaugh's displeasure, either.
It's hard to quantify exactly what has happened to Adebo since joining the Giants. He wasn't exactly a shutdown corner with the Saints, but he was really good, and certainly capable of handling a No. 1 role. He also appeared to be an ascending player.
I loved the signing at the time. Many others gave it high marks, too. I'm not sure anyone expected Adebo to put forth this type of effort.
New York's defensive backfield is a major, major problem heading into 2026, and Adebo's performance is the biggest reason why.
