Colts DT Adetomiwa Adebawore has chance at big payday after DeForest Buckner trade

INDIANAPOLIS — For the moment, everybody is focused on who’s leaving the Colts.

DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson have been traded. Josh Downs wants to follow them. Jonathan Taylor could fetch the kind of haul that Indianapolis cannot turn down.

But there are other ripples from the teardown in Indianapolis, players who have a chance to prove they can be either an early cornerstone of the rebuild or a big-money splash for another team in free agency.

Adetomiwa Adebawore is at a pivotal point in his career.

Adebawore, a defensive tackle in the final year of his rookie contract, has blossomed into one of the Colts’ best pass rushers over the last two years. After the team’s decision to trade Buckner, Adebawore now has a chance to prove that he can be a full-time starter in the NFL, a disruptive presence who could command big money on the open market.

NFL teams are always willing to pay for pass rushers.

The way Adebawore’s playing, he could end up becoming one of the top defensive linemen on the market next offseason.

“Now, I’ve got an opportunity to go play a little more,” Adebawore said. “I hope I take advantage of it.”

Adebawore has spent four years trying to earn the trust of two separate coaching staffs.

Drafted in the fourth round in 2023, Adebawore carried the tag of undersized at 6-foot-1, 282 pounds, although his athleticism was otherworldly. Adebawore ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, setting a record for the fastest time by a player at that weight.

Former Colts general manager Chris Ballard drafted him for his explosiveness.

Two consecutive defensive coaching staffs were reluctant to give him chances because of his size. Adebawore averaged just 134 defensive snaps in his first two seasons under former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, then played roughly a third of the snaps as Buckner’s backup in Lou Anarumo’s scheme.

“I feel like it’s always frustrating for a young player,” Adebawore said. “From my rookie year, I always wanted to play. I feel like every player should be frustrated when they’re not playing, because you work so hard. Whenever you have an opportunity, you’ve got to make the most of it.”

A season-ending neck injury to Buckner gave Adebawore his chance last season.

Finally able to play more than 500 snaps, Adebawore recorded four sacks, five tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. Unlike Buckner, whose 6-7 frame allows him to go over the top of offensive guards, Adebawore’s shorter frame gives him an advantage in terms of leverage.

And few defensive tackles can replicate his speed.

Before Adebawore ran his 4.49, the fastest defensive lineman at his size was Rams tackle Aaron Donald, who ran a 4.68 40-yard dash in 2014 on his way to three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Donald has always given Adebawore a north star to follow.

“One of the better players ever, Aaron Donald, (had a) kind of a similar body type that’s had obviously a lot of success,” Adebawore said. “I like to watch guys like that – similar to my body, and kind of learn from them.”

Adebawore has taken his game to another level this season.

Despite playing only 36% of the snaps, Adebawore has tied Buckner for the team lead with four sacks and eight quarterback hits, slowly convincing the Indianapolis coaching staff that he needs more playing time.

Adebawore’s speed allows him to play both inside and out, and the Colts appear to finally be using him a little bit outside to offset a defensive end group that has barely produced this season. Adebawore’s second sack on Sunday against Minnesota came against highly regarded Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

“Able to put him in different spots,” Anarumo said. “He’s played some 9-technique, some 5-technique, some 3-(technique). He’s just an explosive guy, really good athlete.”

Buckner’s presence still limited Adebawore’s playing time. Indianapolis was playing Buckner on 82% of the snaps, and the former Pro Bowler was still drawing the lion’s share of double teams, allowing Adebawore to go one-on-one.

Trading Buckner gives Adebawore a chance to prove he can still wreck games as a full-time player.

“He’s playing at a high level, and I think he’s only going to continue to elevate that level,” Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. “It’s been exciting to see his growth since his rookie year. Him winning the one-on-one pass rush stuff, taking on double teams, the relentless effort, effort going after the football, going after the quarterback.”

The payoff could be enormous for Adebawore.

He’s playing out the final year of his rookie deal, and that means a payday awaits in free agency if he continues to produce at his current clip.

Whether Adebawore ends up becoming a key piece for a rebuilding Colts roster is hard to predict. His career has already proven that some coaches are reluctant to use him because of his size; a new general manager could have the same convictions.

But if Adebawore continues to play the way he’s been playing, it won’t matter.

He’s going to have plenty of suitors. If Adebawore can push his sack totals near double digits and prove on tape that he can hold up in a starter’s role, there will be a big deal waiting for him next spring, whether it’s in Indianapolis or another city.

“Whenever you get an opportunity to play a little bit more, it’s your time to go out and make plays,” Adebawore said. “It’s everything you put the work in for, you’ve got to go out and show it.”

Adebawore’s time is now.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts DT Adetomiwa Adebawore has chance at big payday after DeForest Buckner trade