WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — An overly optimistic Paulson Adebo thinks the Giants could have “three or four” No. 1-caliber cornerbacks.

The Giants would be happy with just one player ascending to that throne, and based on the combination of experience, contract and talent, it probably needs to be Adebo who pulls away from Greg Newsome II, Deonte Banks and rookie Colton Hood to fill the hole that would bind together a potentially dominant defense.

It didn’t happen last season when Adebo allowed 48 catches for 579 yards and two touchdowns over 12 games in his injury-marred first season after signing a three-year, $54 million free-agent contract.

“Overall, not good enough,” Adebo said of his performance. “Regardless of whatever circumstance is going on.”

With the Saints, Adebo lined up with former Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore and rising star Alontae Taylor. Can he now make the jump to become one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL — in line with his contract — instead of regressing to a level where his starting job is in jeopardy?

“For sure, yeah,” Adebo said. “I think that’s what I see myself as, so that’s what I’m trying to prove.

“Personally, my goal is always to be the best in the league, so year in and year out, that’s always been my goal since I came in as a rookie, so that doesn’t change. But definitely there’s more from the outside as far as being able to fulfill those expectations.”

Adebo, 27, had his second interception of training camp during Tuesday’s practice to continue riding the highs and lows that also include him surrendering a few chunk gains. The takeaway was an encouraging sign for the Giants, who are banking on a return to the production — 10 interceptions in 52 career games with the Saints — that convinced general manager Joe Schoen that Adebo was worthy of No. 1 cornerback billing.

New Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is a blitz doctor but still called an above-league-average 78.2 percent zone coverage last season with the Titans. In theory, an attacking zone should be a better fit for the cerebral Adebo than last season’s role of one-on-one in man-to-man off-coverage against elite receivers.

“It’s a lot similar to what I did in New Orleans,” Adebo said. “A lot of press man on the outside, letting the corners be able to get up and challenge the receivers. So, I think that plays to our strengths — every one of our corners. I mean, it’s definitely something that I love to do.”

Adebo was the only veteran starter to skip the beginning of voluntary OTAs, which prompted the football-obsessed Harbaugh to say he “was interested to hear” the reason. Addressing media for the first time since then, Adebo said he was dealing with some “personal stuff” back then and there “wasn’t too much to that.”

“If that’s what I’m going through,” Adebo said, “I can’t really help it.”

Adebo can help the Giants with plays like he made Tuesday in the end zone.

“[They] try to do kind of those rub routes, try to take advantage of the space and kind of mismatch and pick off you,” he said, “so I was able to fight through the pick and then get my head around and go up and get the ball.”

Harbaugh is used to having first-team All-Pro Marlon Humphrey blanketing receivers with the Ravens. In 2019, Humphrey and teammate Marcus Peters formed the best cornerback duo in the NFL.

But scheme can help cornerbacks. So can a pass rush — and the Giants are counting on Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux forcing hurried throws that 6-foot-4 inside linebackers Arvell Reese and Tremaine Edmunds can tip.

“The better your corners are, that’s great,” Harbaugh said. “I’d like to have two No. 1 shutdown corners. Three would be even better. And your scheme has to help whoever is out there. Sometimes, if you think you’re a little stronger in one area than another, I think your scheme can help you. You can probably lean towards certain things.”

Safety Tyler Nubin said Wilson’s scheme will allow the Giants cornerbacks to be “super aggressive.”

“I feel like we’ve got one of the strongest cornerback rooms in the league,” Adebo said. “I think it’s going to be a really dominant defense.”

Only if at least one lockdown cornerback emerges.