Redskins: Five 2020 draft prospects to watch in college football
By Ian Cummings
No. 4 – Stanford CB Paulson Abedo
With Josh Norman entering his age-32 season, the Redskins are bound to move on from him sooner rather than later. The former All-Pro has been solid, if not spectacular, but in recent years, his play hasn’t amounted to his hefty contract, and in 2020, he can be released for just $3 million in dead cap.
Barring a resurgence, 2019 looks like Norman’s fourth and final season with the Redskins, and even if it isn’t, the Redskins could use some insurance on the boundary, to prepare for Norman’s looming departure. They have great depth, and plenty of young talent worth developing, but the cornerback position is one of the most important in the modern NFL, and thus can’t be settled at.
In the early rounds, the Redskins could search for Norman’s replacement across from Quinton Dunbar, and they might find that replacement in the mold of Stanford’s Paulson Abedo.
Abedo, standing at around 6-foot-1, 190, is coming off an incredibly productive sophomore season, in which he logged 64 tackles, four interceptions, 17 pass deflections, and a forced fumble in thirteen games. In 2019, as a true junior, he’ll look to expand on those impressive numbers, and maximize his stock for what could be his draft year.
Abedo has an enticing skill set, and this linked clip from draft analyst Rob Paul does well to spotlight a number of Abedo’s traits on one play. Abedo has the fluidity and burst to mirror wide receivers off their breaks, and he also has the length, instincts, and ball skills to be very disruptive at the catch point. A complete cornerback with all the athletic and intangible tools, look for Abedo to set the standard for this year’s class.