After a 42-7 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday, they're 2-6 and have lost four straight. The overhaul started two weeks ago, when they fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard one day after losing to the previously winless Titans. They've since traded two franchise cornerstones: guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
There have also been rumors the team could move on from All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Josh Downs. In the middle of the teardown, the Colts have agreed to a two-year, $35 million extension with defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero. It includes a $13 million signing bonus and $22.5 million in new money through 2027.
More news: Ravens Urged to Trade for Cardinals QB After Lamar Jackson Injury Adebawore, a 25-year-old tackle out of Northwestern, was the Colts' fourth-round pick in 2023 and has since evolved into one of the team's most valuable players. He spent his first two years as a rotational player before recording 36 combined tackles (14 solo), five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four sacks, and one fumble recovery across 17 games with seven starts last year. This season, he's on the cusp of a breakout, with 19 tackles (eight solo), four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, four sacks, and two pass breakups through just the first eight games.
More news: Bears Could Be Eyeing Another Blockbuster Trade After Jeffery Simmons Deal More news: NFL Insider Warns Dak Prescott’s Time With Cowboys Could Be Running Out With Buckner gone, Adebawore's role with the team is only going to grow, and they clearly see him as a young, ascending talent they can build around. The new deal ties him to Indianapolis through 2028 but lets him hit free agency again in his prime. While the Colts are clearly heading in a new direction, they believe Adebawore can be an important part of the foundation they're building, whatever that ultimately looks like.
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