While many national football pundits are waiting for the Indianapolis Colts to sell off more valuable players at the trade deadline, the team proved it's not also thinking about the long-term by extending defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore on Tuesday. Doing so was absolutely the right move.
Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and acting general manager Ed Dodds aren't simply getting rid of people like DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson because the season is going south. The draft picks received in those trades should help Indy get better more quickly.
That theory works with Adebawore, too. The fourth-round 2023 pick was underused in his first two seasons, but last season saw a jump in pass-rush production. While many might wish that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo didn't still have his job, he has at least gotten the best out of Adebawore.
Indianapolis Colts agree to an extension with Adetomiwa Adebawore
This season, he has been the biggest positive surprise of the season. He has four sacks, already tying his career-best set last season, and eight quarterback hits, a personal best. He also has four tackles for loss, one behind his number from 2025.
He is also arguably having his best season against the run, something he had struggled with previously. He's always flashed an ability to chase quarterbacks, but stuffing running backs is something new. He has also improved as the season has grown older.
Only 25 years old, his best football is probably still ahead of him. He won't fully make up for Buckner's absence, but in terms of defensive line versatility, he is currently the closest replica of Buckner that the Colts have. Trading him would have been a waste because he is the exact kind of player Indianapolis should hope to draft with the picks they get back in a trade.
His new extension will pay him as much as $35 million over the next two seasons, including a $13 million signing bonus. The question now is who the Colts get to put beside him.
Grover Stewart is a solid veteran but well into his 30s and likely not playing much longer. He might not return to Indianapolis in 2027, as he is a free agent after this season. Edge rusher Jaylahn Tuimoloau has improved in his second season and is capable of playing defensive end should the new defensive coordinator choose to play a 3-4 instead of Anarumo's 4-3.
Of course, Anarumo could be retained should Indianapolis hire a new head coach, which is expected. But the new coach might want to bring in his own DC. Either way, Adetomiwa Adebawore is part of the plan for the future, and that is a very good thing.
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