The Colts’ deadline selloff may not be as absolute as it looks, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from circling.
Indianapolis has already moved Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and Josh Downs has also requested a trade. Even with that kind of churn, there’s at least one Colts defender who’s drawing attention for the opposite reason: Adetomiwa Adebawore’s breakout has put him on other teams’ radar.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo said clubs are doing homework on the defensive tackle as the trade deadline approaches.
“The Colts sort of brought this on themselves in that everything must go is the way that people are thinking and it's not necessarily the case there for the Colts. They still have a mind toward what's happening moving forward.
But everybody's being checked out now, and I know some teams are doing homework now on defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore. He is a former fourth-round pick that's really turned the corner and has been disruptive inside.
I know that if he's made available, this is a guy that other teams might wanna be able to pry away from the Colts. In the meantime, he could still be a piece of what's happening in Indianapolis.”
On paper, the stat line is modest: 17 total tackles, four sacks and one pass defensed in seven games this season. But the underlying numbers tell a much louder story.
Garafolo also posted a graphic built on PFF’s pass-rush and run-defense grades for defensive tackles, and Adebawore was sitting in the top right corner with Dexter Lawrence. That placement points to elite work on both fronts, against the run and as a pass rusher.
Adebawore is in the final season of his rookie deal, which means a bigger payday is coming this offseason. Whether that comes from the Colts, another team or the open market, he’s positioned himself for a raise.
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