Adetomiwa Adebawore

Career StatsC

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		43	6.5	48	7
2025		17	4.0	36	5
2024		16	1.0	7	2
2023		10

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Salary-cap math on Adetomiwa Adebawore's contract works out to a C+ Contract Value Index given the dead-cap exposure and term. At $1.2 million AAV on a four-year rookie scale deal, Adebawore is absorbing minimal cap real estate while delivering legitimate production—his 2025 season totaled 36 tackles, 4 sacks across 17 games, marking the kind of steady rotational contribution that justifies his slot on the depth chart. The CVI sits in solid-but-unspectacular territory because his performance grade (C) and contract economics don't yet align with the upside narrative building around him; he's a below-average starter trending toward above-average, not a proven producer commanding premium value. At 25 years old in his third year, Adebawore occupies exactly the phase where a fourth-round pick either breaks into consistent role or settles as a career reserve—his recent high-leverage moments (the 12-yard sack against Houston, clutch late pressure versus Arizona) suggest genuine forward momentum, but one season of production doesn't rewrite the CVI math. Media framing consistently highlights his exceptional surplus value at this price point, particularly with the opportunity created by roster churn at defensive tackle, positioning him as one of the more intriguing low-cost assets the Colts can deploy in 2026. The four-year term carries modest risk; if his ascent continues, the Colts have locked in a bargain, and if he plateaus as a rotational piece, the cap hit remains inconsequential to overall flexibility.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Adetomiwa's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Tape review and box-score baselines converge on a C performance grade for Adetomiwa Adebawore. The third-year defensive tackle sits in the middle-tier range among position peers—productive enough to earn consistent snaps and meaningful opportunities, but not yet at the above-average threshold that separates him from the broader rotation. His 2025 season stat line of 36 tackles and 4 sacks across 17 games shows a player who stayed durable and on the field, though the sack total underscores that his impact remains concentrated in occasional high-leverage moments rather than sustained pressure generation. The tape-supported strength here is situational pass rush: his 12-yard sack against Houston and crucial late-game pressure against Arizona were exactly the types of clutch plays that shift narratives from depth piece to viable contributor, and that high-leverage productivity matters in close games. The weakness, reflected in the modest sack output and tackle total, is consistency—he's a rotational plug rather than a starter caliber defensive tackle carrying a full workload. At 25 years old on a cheap rookie-scale deal at $1.2 million annually, Adebawore is the kind of low-cost asset whose upside outweighs his current tape grade, positioning him as a potential breakout candidate in 2026 if he can translate those clutch moments into a broader role as the Colts navigate the post-DeForest Buckner era.

How Adetomiwa Compares at the Position

Adetomiwa Adebawore ranks 98th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Adetomiwa between Simeon Barrow (C) just ahead and Neville Gallimore (C) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Adetomiwa Adebawore carries a **B-** sentiment grade as a quietly ascending defensive tackle whose stock is steadily rising within Indianapolis. The media narrative around Adebawore has shifted from depth piece to legitimate contributor following clutch performances like his 12-yard sack against Houston and crucial late-game pressure versus Arizona — the type of high-leverage moments that reshape how analysts view a player's ceiling. At just $1.2 million annually, coverage consistently highlights his exceptional surplus value, with beat writers positioning him as one of the roster's most intriguing low-cost assets if his upward trajectory continues. The departure of DeForest Buckner has created additional opportunity, and media framing suggests Adebawore is well-positioned to fill a meaningful role in the Colts' defensive tackle rotation. While he's not yet viewed as a cornerstone player, the overall perception among fans and analysts is cautiously optimistic — there's a growing belief that Adebawore is on the cusp of breaking through into a more prominent role in 2026.