Colts Lock In Adebawore With $35 Million Deal

The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a $35 million contract extension with defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore. The deal, reported by NFL Network on Tuesday, spans two seasons and runs through the 2028 campaign. It includes a $13 million signing bonus.

Adebawore is 25 years old. He entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2023. That draft class has been widely criticized, with only Adebawore expected to secure a second contract with the team. The selection was made by then-general manager Chris Ballard, who bet on the player's unusual speed for a defensive tackle.

The 2023 draft was intended to rebuild a team that had finished the previous season with four wins. The strategy focused on high draft picks to retool the roster. However, the results have been mixed. Adebawore has developed into a primary starter rather than a rotational player. His role has expanded beyond special teams duties, making him a core piece of the defense.

The move to extend Adebawore comes as the Colts manage their defensive line. DeForest Buckner has been traded away. Grover Stewart, who is 33, is in a contract year. The team has known its starting defensive tackles for every season since 2020. The loss of Buckner and the uncertainty surrounding Stewart leave a gap that Adebawore is now positioned to fill.

The Colts face a trade deadline next Tuesday. The team is expected to use that window to acquire draft capital by trading players on expiring contracts. Adebawore does not fit that category. His new contract places him in the group of established players who will form the foundation for the franchise moving forward.

The extension secures a key component of the defense for the next two years. It reflects the team's decision to retain a proven performer from a draft class that has otherwise struggled to yield long-term value. Adebawore is now one of the few guaranteed pieces for the Colts in the upcoming seasons.