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Here are four things to know about Colts DT Adetomiwa Adebawore.
The Indianapolis Colts are thought to have received a steal in the 2023 NFL draft when selecting Northwestern defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore in the fourth round.
An extremely athletic pass rusher, Adebawore still has development ahead in terms of adding counters and cultivating an overall plan as a rusher. However, the value they got in the fourth round is well worth it.
Here are four things to know about Adebawore:
Which Colts’ rookies will have the biggest impact in Year 1?
The Indianapolis Colts are bringing on the largest draft class in the franchise’s history during the modern draft era with 12 players joining the roster.
This was a much-needed jolt to the roster that needed competition and depth across the board. While all 12 players might not make the final roster as history tells us even with smaller draft classes, there is plenty of opportunity for the rookies to make an impact in 2023.
Let’s take a look at which first-year players are set to influence the outcome of the upcoming season:
Touchdown Wire dubbed Adetomiwa Adebawore as one of the best picks in the fourth round.
The Indianapolis Colts kicked off the final day of the 2023 NFL draft with some selections of prospects with value and upside, including the addition of defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore.
The Northwestern product was viewed as a bit of a tweener, but most analysts had him projected to go relatively early on Day 2. However, he fell to Day 3, and the Colts scooped him up with the No. 110 overall pick—a selection they received via trade with the Atlanta Falcons.
Projecting to compete at the three-technique defensive tackle position, Adebawore was labeled as one of the top value selections in the fourth round by our friends over at Touchdown Wire.
Though his build isn’t typical for a three-technique at 6-foot-1 and 282 pounds, He has the length, explosiveness, speed and athleticism to be an impact player as a pass rusher. He also was a team captain during his senior season, which shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point.
Adebawore’s development likely will focus on adding counters to his pass-rushing plan. He has a really good rip move that can be effective at the next level. Now, it’s about refining that and adding some other moves to keep blockers guessing.
The rookie will likely fit right into the rotation behind DeForest Buckner, competing with free-agent-signee Taven Bryan and Dayo Odeyingbo when he kicks inside from the edge.
Regardless, the selection of Adebawore is the ideal example of taking a Day 3 shot on an extremely athletic player who could turn into an impact defender in a key part of the game.
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Colts fans, here is your 2023 NFL draft class!
The Indianapolis Colts have concluded their selections in the 2023 NFL draft, and now we can sit back and look at the class in its entirety.
Looking to reset the organization, the Colts brought in a potential franchise quarterback in the form of Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick. After addressing some major needs on Day 2, the Colts added a ridiculous amount of depth with elite athletes across the roster.
In total, there were 12 selections overall—a record for general manager Chris Ballard. That broke the previous record during Ballard’s tenure from the 2018 class (11).
From the QB1 to their final pick in the seventh round, here is the 2023 draft class for the Colts:
NFL teams got all kinds of prospect value in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft, and here are the best fourth-round value picks.
You wanna tell me that players selected in the fourth round can’t ball in the NFL?
In recent years, Kirk Cousins, Geno Atkins, David Bakhtiari, Dak Prescott, K.J. Wright, De’Vondre Campbell, and Za’Darius Smith are among those who would vehemently disagree with you.
Throughout pro football history, there’s Charles Haley, John Stallworth, Steve Largent, and Cliff Branch who would be happy to show you their gold jackets. (R.I.P., Mr. Branch).
So, the guys selected in the first round of the third day of the 2023 draft have every opportunity to stick it in the faces of all the teams who passed them by in the first three rounds.
As they say, all it takes is one team, and here are the best value picks in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
What the Colts are getting in DT Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Chris Ballard is doing Chris Ballard things to kick off Day 3 of the NFL draft by betting on prospects that have athletic traits and play in the trenches. The second selection of the day for the Indianapolis Colts was defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore.
The Northwestern product is bringing some elite athleticism with him to the Indy defensive front.
His sub 4.5 40-yard time made him the only 280+ pound prospect to do that in the entire history of combine. Adebawore is a freaky player because of his elite athletic testing. His size dinged him since he is considered a defensive tackle in his RAS score, but he still finds himself as the 46th-ranked prospect for the position since 1987.
Adetomiwa Adebawore was drafted with pick 110 of round 4 in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.72 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 46 out of 1620 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/6Jk3oywNzm pic.twitter.com/Wm9fnXPtqK
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 29, 2023
It will be interesting to see if the Colts want him to put on more weight to be more of a three-technique or if they will slide him inside and out as a rotational piece similar to how they’ve used Tyquan Lewis. He’s stout against the run because of his initial burst and how he uses his strong hands to shed an offensive lineman.
Aside from hurricane winds, #Northwestern DL Adetomiwa Adebawore #99 was the second-most disruptive force on the field vs. OSU. Interesting senior prospect.
3-tech on 3rd-and-1. Doesn’t let the LG reach his outside shoulder. pic.twitter.com/h0zfHgfh8n
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 7, 2022
His handwork translates as a pass rusher as well. He does a solid job getting leverage against offensive linemen and using a set of moves to win on the edge.
Adetomiwa Adebawore with the cross chop rip #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/4AymAZftyv
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) February 2, 2023
If Adebawore doesn’t want to use a pass-rush move, he also has the strength to bullrush linemen.
Adetomiwa Adebawore had him on skates #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/h8PQMLA79u
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) February 3, 2023
He will need to work on being a consistent tackler, he gets himself in a position to make a play but left too many missed opportunities on the field. He also can become a better pass rusher with the development of counter moves. He can get stood up if the first move doesn’t win.
The Colts are getting an athletic, versatile player that has the traits that can help him develop into a starter. At worst, he’s a piece in a rotation on the defensive line that can be used on all three downs.
Instant analysis of the Colts drafting DT Adetomiwa Adebawore.
The Indianapolis Colts love drafting prospects with elite athleticism, and that trend continued with the fourth-round selection of Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Making this selection with the fourth-round pick the Colts received in the Day 2 trade with the Atlanta Falcons, Indy is getting an extremely versatile and athletic pass rusher.
Adebawore posted the same 40-yard dash time (4.49) as wide receiver Jordan Addison despite being over 100 pounds heavier.
Here’s our instant analysis of the pick:
BREAKING: Colts select Northwestern DT Adetomiwa Adebawore with the No. 110 pick.
The Indianapolis Colts selected Northwestern defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore with the No. 110 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Using the pick they received in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons on Day 2, the Colts continue their trend of grabbing freaky athletes with immense upside.
Despite being project by most analysts as a Day 2 pick, Adebawore slid on the boards for an unknown reason. The Colts took advantage of it and were able to grab one of the most impressive athletes in the entire draft.
At 6-foot-1 and 282 pounds, Adebawore measured in with 33 7/8-inch arms while posting a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash along with a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-5-inch broad jump.
To put that 40-yard dash time into perspective, Adebawore posted the same time as wide receivers Jordan Addison (4.49) and fellow Colts rookie Josh Downs (4.48) despite being over 100 pounds heavier.
A four-year senior and three-year starter, Adebawore was a team captain in 2022 for Northwestern. He’s a bit of a tweener when it comes to his position. He played mostly on the edge at Northwestern, but he also has experience kicking inside to three-technique.
The traits are what make him appealing. When it comes to his pass-rushing plan, he’s pretty raw. He needs to further develop his counters and plan as a rusher.
The upside is through the roof as a three-technique defensive tackle, but there will be a road of development ahead.
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50 best available prospects for the New Orleans Saints on Day 3 of NFL draft, via @DillySanders
We’re on to Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft, and there are still players available who can help the New Orleans Saints in rounds four, five, six, and seven (to say nothing of the dozens of undrafted free agents waiting for their chance). Here’s our list of the top 50 remaining prospects as the Saints wait their turn to go on the clock.
New Orleans is scheduled to make five picks on Saturday:
And here’s the top 50:
Here are the best available players for the Colts on Day 3.
The Indianapolis Colts have added some intriguing talent to the roster at major positions of need through the first two days of the 2023 NFL draft and are looking to end the weekend on a high note.
With eight selections in total on Day 3—six Rounds 4 and 5—it will be a busy day adding depth and competition to the roster. Some intriguing names have fallen to Day 3, including some prospects who were widely expected to go well before this.
It’s important to note that when it comes to Day 3 prospects, it’s rare to expect them to turn into starters. If they can fill out the depth chart as rotational players or on special teams, it’s considered a win. Some will turn into starters, but it’s important to manage expectations when it comes to the majority of the group.
Below are the big board rankings at each position:
| Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Interior OL | Offensive Tackles |
| Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties |
Sorted by position and round grade, here are the best remaining players available for the Colts on Day 3 of the draft:
