Colts Sign Adebawore To $35 Million Extension Amid Roster Overhaul
Indianapolis retains its fourth-year defensive tackle on a two-year deal as the team prepares for a major rebuild following the departure of several veterans.
By Pavel Bell ·
The Indianapolis Colts signed fourth-year defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday, securing the 25-year-old for two additional seasons. The agreement is valued at $35 million, with $22.5 million guaranteed and a $13 million signing bonus, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press. The source requested anonymity because the team did not release the specific financial terms.
The signing stands out against a backdrop of rapid organizational change in Indianapolis. The team, currently holding a 2-6 record, lost four consecutive games and has won only two of its last fifteen contests. Co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard two weeks ago. Last week, she traded Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to teams in the NFC West. Those trades yielded draft picks, a move the Colts pursued because they lack a first-round selection for next season. That pick belongs to the New York Jets as part of the 2025 trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Trade rumors continue to swirl around other key players. Receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade, while Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor remains on the market as a top target ahead of next Tuesday's deadline. Amidst these personnel moves, Adebawore capitalized on a breakout season. He has started two games and played in all eight games this year. He has recorded four sacks, matching his career total, along with 19 tackles and four tackles for loss.
With Buckner returning to San Francisco, where he began his NFL career, Adebawore is expected to assume a larger role on the interior of the defensive line. Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator, praised Adebawore's work ethic before the deal was finalized. Anarumo noted that Adebawore has taken the next step at defensive tackle after years of contributing on special teams. He described Adebawore as a high-motor player and a great human, adding that the coaching staff intends to use him even more frequently.
Adebawore, who stands 6-foot and weighs 282 pounds, entered the league as a fourth-round pick, No. 110 overall, from Northwestern in 2023. During his first two seasons, he appeared in 26 games but accumulated only 12 total tackles, four for loss, and two and a half sacks. Last season, he started seven games and played in all 17, finishing with 36 tackles and four sacks.
The extension locks in a key interior defender for the Colts through the next two campaign cycles. The team will now focus on integrating Adebawore into a rebuilt defensive front while navigating the remaining trade deadline window.
Source: Newsday
