Should Chicago Bears Draft DL Adetomiwa Adebawore
The Chicago Bears left free agency still looking to fill their hole at the three-technique spot. When their staff was spotted at the Northwestern Pro day, fans pointed to Pete Skoronski, but Adetomiwa Adebawore would be a fit as well. How would he fit, and what does his draft projection look like?
Chicago Bears Draft Profile: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
Adetomiwa Adebawore is a fourth-year senior from Northwestern. He played rotationally as a freshman but got onto the field. He emerged in 2020, but the shortened season did not allow him fully blossom.
After posting 17 pressures, and 13 run stops in 2020, he jumped to 30, and 23 then 31 and 27 in both areas respectively during his final two seasons. His consistency over the past two years got him invited to the Senior Bowl, and he was one of the standout players.
Then, Adetomiwa Adebawore blew up at the NFL combine.
You do not need players of his size and move like that. This is compared to an interior defensive lineman, and while his size is on the smaller end, one huge note is that his arm length is above average compared to most interior rushers.
However, at Northwestern he played 1,511 snaps as an edge rusher, and just 447 snaps as an interior rusher.
Adetomiwa Adebawore NFL Translation
The question with Adetomiwa Adebawore is whether he will be a tweener. He obviously has the athletic ability on the edge, but he is a bit too big to consistently win against the most athletic NFL tackles. However, he will need to put on some weight to avoid getting bullied in the interior.
In most cases, the question will be if he can project to the inside, despite playing on the outside. He has the burst and length that can be dangerous, he just has never done it before. Adetomiwa Adebawore does not use his length to his advantage in college, and that will have to change because it will be one of his bigger strengths in the NFL.
He answered a lot of questions at the Senior Bowl because they asked him to line up inside much more often. In bits and pieces you see a three-technique who can penetrate upfield consistently, but there is still plenty of projection to his game.
NFL Comparison for Adetomiwa Adebawore
There are not many players that match the athletic profile, size, and role that Adetomiwa Adebawore brings to the table, but the best NFL comparison is Solomon Thomas. Below you can see how they compare.
Chicago Bears know Solomon Thomas as the guy that was drafted one pick after Mitch Trubisky. Thomas did not live up to that, but he turn out a nice NFL career. The good news for Adetomiwa Adebawore is that he will not get drafted as high, and his reputation will be different because of that.
If Thomas was a second-round pick he would be a pretty nice find. Thomas is the same type of player coming out of Stanford. He was an athletic marvel who flashed in moments on tape. However, he was an edge rusher, and the 49ers tried to keep him as an edge for too long.
Once they move him inside, he started to find an NFL career, and he has followed Robert Saleh from the 49ers to the Jets because he unlocked Thomas in that area.
A rotational edge who could play outside, but is best on the inside is exactly what Adetomiwa Adebawore brings. Perhaps if he starts inside, and has fewer expectations he can actually be what many thought Thomas could be when he was drafted so high.
Should Chicago Bears draft Adetomiwa Adebawore?
Adetomiwa Adebawore comes off as a great fit. They signed DeMarcus Walker, who is the poor man's version of Adetomiwa Adebawore athletically, but at the same time, is the more refined NFL player of the two.
The two could rotate in and out, and play off of each other at the same time. Adetomiwa Adebawore can see how Walker wins with his hands and much less athletic ability than him, and it would potentially skyrocket his career.
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The question is when he will get drafted. Before the NFL combine it was a lock that the Chicago Bears could take him with one of their three picks between 60-75. However, now his stock may have locked him into the top 50. If he is on the board by the Chicago Bears' second pick it is hard to see them passing on this fit with this upside.