Northwestern DL Adetomiwa Adebawore May Be the Quintessential Saints Early-round NFL Draft Selection

Smaller school, athletic traits and versatility make Adebawore an intriguing early option for New Orleans.

The defensive line has always been an area the New Orleans Saints have keenly focused on in the NFL Draft. Since winning the Super Bowl in the 2010 calendar year (2009 season), the Saints have selected a defensive end or interior defensive lineman in 10 of those 13 drafts. Many times selecting both an edge defender and interior lineman in the same year. In 2023, things should not venture far away from this trend considering the major need at both defensive line positions this offseason. 

Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (DL20) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore (add-E-TOMMY-wah add-E-BAR-eh)would be an excellent selection that can be impactful from multiple positions along the defensive trenches and has the potential to develop into a long-term edge defender in particular. He even has the small-school player appeal while still being a Big 10 product, a collegiate conference in which the Saints have not been shy about investing.

Adebawore is below the Saints usual prototype when it comes to defensive ends at just 6-foot-1. But with willing the scales at 282 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, he meets the usual size in terms of weight. If the height is something the New Orleans brass is willing to look beyond, it is easy to see why he could be a first- or second-round selection for the Big Easy.

Adebawore was a star in his Combine workout. His blazing 4.49 40-yard dash was tied for the No. 4 fastest time among all edge rushers and would have been far and away the fastest among interior defenders. His also added a 37.5-inch vertical leap, the third highest bound and put up 25 reps on the bench press, a top-5 count.

The Northwestern alum put on quite the show in Indianapolis and he could continue to bring the excitement in New Orleans come 2023. His 9.72 RAS score is a sight that most Saints fans will not be able to shake considering how highly the team values athleticism.

Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (DL20) participates in drills during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Adebawore brings good size, speed and athleticism to a defensive line that most relies on speed-to-power conversion. While he can add to that very element of the pass rushing repertoire, adding the wrinkle of speed off the edge could go a long way for the Saints. Especially with the number of athletic, mobile quarterbacks in today’s NFL.

Nearly half of the Saints’ games in the 2023 season will are expected to be against mobile or elusive quarterbacks. 4.49 speed on the line would be a massive addition immediately and in the future for the team’s defense. With 12.5 career sacks and 24.5 career tackles for a loss, Adebawore has proven to be impactful in both the run and pass rushing games. He has added at least 23 defensive stops, classified as “tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense” by Pro Football Focus, in each of his last two seasons.

The defensive lineman played over 200 snaps both outside and in, attacking from both sides of the line as well. That kind of versatility is of high-desire from the Saints. That would allow them to get him on the field quite a bit backing up several spots on the line to start his career and then eventually settle on at a designated spot over time.

In his rookie year, the role he would likely take on in New Orleans is that of a rotational pass rusher. He would start by splitting snaps on the edge with Carl Granderson and Payton Turner opposite star end Cameron Jordan. He could also rotate inside with new interior defenders Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shephered along with the returning Malcolm Roach.

Sep 10, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (99) forces a fumble on Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) during the second quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Depending on where he finds himself most productive, his role could grow at either spot. Though the addition of his athleticism and speed on the edge is undeniable.

Where he will need to improve is evident. His flexibility can be worked on, making him a greater threat as a edge rusher by improving his ability to bend. Finishing sacks and tackles will need to be improved as well. Members of the Saints’ defense shared frustration around not finishing plays in 2022 from time to time, and Adebawore would not want to be a part of that number.

The Saints have a habit of investing in underdeveloped pass rushers early in drafts as of late. Adebawore is a lot further along with experience attacking and pursuing from multiple areas and fronts. That is a big differentiator between he and previous early-round investments. Yes, he has elements to improve and address, but so does every rookie. The Northwestern pass rusher is far enough along to have an immediate impact in New Orleans as a projected first- or second-round selection.