The Colts made a move on Tuesday that says plenty about how they view their future: Adetomiwa Adebawore isn’t going anywhere.
With trade-deadline chatter swirling around Indianapolis and some national voices expecting the team to keep stripping down the roster, the Colts instead chose to lock up one of their most promising young defensive linemen. It was the right call. Adebawore has gone from an underused fourth-round pick in 2023 to one of the clearest bright spots on the roster.
That growth didn’t happen all at once. He barely got much of a chance in his first two seasons, but last year his pass-rush production took a step forward.
This season, he’s been even better. Adebawore has four sacks, matching his career high from last season, along with eight quarterback hits, which is a personal best.
He also has four tackles for loss, just one shy of his 2025 total.
What stands out now is that he’s not just winning as a pass rusher. He’s been better against the run, too, which had been a problem before.
He’s always had the burst to chase quarterbacks, but holding up against rushing attacks is a newer part of his game. And as the season has gone on, he’s only looked more comfortable.
At 25, he still looks like a player whose best football is ahead of him. He won’t replace DeForest Buckner on his own, but in terms of versatility on the defensive line, he’s the closest thing the Colts currently have to Buckner.
That’s exactly why moving him would have made little sense. He’s the kind of player Indianapolis should be trying to find, not giving away.
The extension can pay him as much as $35 million over the next two seasons, and it includes a $13 million signing bonus. Now the bigger question becomes who lines up next to him.
Grover Stewart is a steady veteran, but he’s already in his 30s and may not be around much longer. He is also a free agent after this season, so a return to Indianapolis in 2027 is far from certain. Jaylahn Tuimoloau has taken a step in his second season and could slide to defensive end if the Colts go to a 3-4 under a new defensive coordinator instead of Lou Anarumo’s 4-3.
And that’s another layer here. Anarumo could stay if Indianapolis hires a new head coach, which is expected, but the next coach may still want his own defensive coordinator. Even with that uncertainty hanging over the staff, one thing is clear: Adebawore is part of what comes next.
In Other News...
Colts Fans Finally Got Their First Real Look At CJ Allen
CJ Allens role finally started to look closer to what the Colts envisioned when they made him their top overall pick in the 2026 draft. In Week 8 against Jacksonville, he got a much bigger run than usual and made the most of it, showing up around the ball, finishing plays and looking more comfortable as the game went on. Even with Indianapolis giving up plenty of yards and points, Allens snap increase offered a clearer glimpse of why the organization is willing to be patient with a young linebacker learning the speed and complexity of the NFL.
The encouraging part for the Colts is that Allen did not just survive the extra responsibility, he appeared to grow into it. His development is still a work in progress, and the game also underscored the usual growing pains that come with a rookie trying to carve out a bigger defensive role. For a team that wants more impact from the middle of its defense, the next question is whether this was a one-game step forward or the start of a more consistent climb. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Trade Buzz Just Raised The Stakes For The Colts
The trade chatter around Jonathan Taylor has put another layer of intrigue on the Colts as the NFL deadline approaches. Denver is reportedly among the teams showing interest in the veteran running back, and the buzz makes sense given Taylors production and the way Indianapolis has leaned on him this season. Still, any team weighing a move for a back of his caliber has to balance the immediate upgrade against the cost, especially when the asking price figures to be steep.
For the Broncos, the conversation is not happening in a vacuum. Their recent history of making aggressive trades adds some context, but it also invites caution about chasing a big-name addition when a cheaper path may exist. Rookie Jonah Coleman has emerged as a possible alternative in Denvers backfield picture, which only sharpens the question of whether the Broncos really need to swing big for Taylor or whether they can find a more practical answer elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Polian Shared The Colts Super Bowl XLI Moment He Cherishes Most
With the Super Bowl back in the conversation ahead of the 2027 game on WRTV, former Colts general manager Bill Polian is looking back at the title run that still defines an era in Indianapolis. Polian, who ran the franchise from 1998 to 2009 and then served as team president through 2011, helped steer a stretch that produced eight division titles, but one memory from the Colts Super Bowl XLI week stands out above the rest.
Polian said his favorite moment from that championship week came when the team opened a Saturday practice walk-through to families, giving them a chance to be around the players and coaches and take photos. It was the kind of gesture that captured the tone of that team beyond the trophy itself, a reminder that the Colts biggest days under Polian were built on more than winning alone. [Read more 🡒]