2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Adetomiwa Adebawore





  • Adetomiwa Adebawore, 6-2/282

  • Defensive End

  • Northwestern


  • Adetomiwa Adebawore Scouting Report
    By Charlie Campbell

    Strengths:
  • Very athletic
  • Excellent workout numbers
  • Tough
  • Physical
  • Good motor
  • Strength to work off blocks
  • Quality run defender
  • Strong bull rush
  • Active hands
  • Can rush from the inside
  • Closing speed
  • Interior pass-rush potential
  • Athletic upside




  • Weaknesses:
  • Tweener
  • Lacks length for defensive end
  • Lacks weight for defensive tackle
  • Not instinctive
  • Will miss some tackles


  • Summary: Adebawore was a solid producer and disruptor for Northwestern over the past two years. In 2021, he broke out nicely with 4.5 sacks, 36 tackles, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. Adebawore then totaled 38 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles in 2022. Afterward, he put together an excellent combine performance that including a freakish 40-yard dash time of 4.49 seconds.

    For the NFL, Adebawore is a physical defender at the point of attack. He is tough, strong, and has a steady motor. In the ground game, Adebawore consistentky holds his gap well and has the strength to work off blocks. Thanks to his quality lateral anchor and good leverage, offensive linemen struggle to move him when he lines up at defensive end. The mass of guards can give Adebawore problems on the inside, and his lack of length can occasionally rear up at both spots. He displays a steady motor and doesn’t quit on plays.

    In the pass rush, Adebawore is a solid contributor, but he is not a world beater. Adebawore has good speed with a burst to close, alongside a powerful bull rush and some quickness out of his stance, but he lacks length. His length issue can be seen with how he has a hard time preventing blockers from getting into his chest. As a rusher, Adebawore’s best fit is to move to the inside and go against guards. Adebawore will probably never be a prolific sack collector in the NFL, but he could be a really solid complement to good rushers around him.



    Adebawore is a tweener for the next level in that he has the height and length of a tackle, but his weight is more like that of a defensive end’s. Adebawore’s best fit could come as an interior rusher when a team shifts to its nickel defense.

    In the 2023 NFL Draft, Adebawore looks likely to be a second-round pick. He might sneak into the bottom of Round 1, but he is more likely to go in Round 2, according to team sources. Adebawore should not fall any lower than third round during the 2023 NFL Draft.



    Player Comparison: Jonathan Bullard. Adebawore looks a lot like Bullard coming out of Florida. Bullard was a good college player but a tweener for the NFL. As a result, Bullard has been more of a rotational backup as a pro.






    RELATED LINKS:


    2023 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


    2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


    2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








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