Adetomiwa Adebawore Complete NFL Draft Profile (Northwestern Standout Comes With High Upside, But Low Floor)

Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore is eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft following his standout season in 2022. A steady producer on both rushing and passing plays, Adebawore showcased his raw athleticism in college and could hear his name called as early as the first round.

Here's everything you need to know about Adetomiwa Adebawore heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Adetomiwa Adebawore Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/18: Walter Football, Sporting News, Draft Tek, Pro Football Network, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, ESPN.

Projected Draft Round: Round 1 (2), Round 2 (4), Round 3 (1)
Projected Team: Raiders (2), Buccaneers (2), Chargers (1), Saints (1), Chiefs (1)

Adetomiwa Adebawore Scouting Report

Adebawore committed to Northwestern after being a first-team all-state selection in high school and showcasing his pure strength as a shot put state title winner. He made an immediate impression as a freshman, logging 1.0 sacks and 6 tackles in three games. That was before he was trusted as a starter.

The Missouri native shifted into an every-week player in 2020, tallying 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in nine games. He tapped into his true potential in 2021 and 2022 by earning two All-Big Ten honorable mentions. Adebawore racked up 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in that two-year span.

Highlighted strengths of Adebawore's game focus on his ability to collapse the pocket. He shines brightest in interior penetration plays where he can rely on his footwork and elite center of gravity to get through even the smallest of gaps. Adebawore has also been praised for his football intelligence.

Adebawore is not a prospect without flaws, though, as he remains limited from a lateral perspective. He almost always attacks offensive linemen with power, even when speed is needed along the edge. That said, the Northwestern standout has the potential to exceed expectations with the right coaching staff.

Adetomiwa Adebawore NFL Draft Prediction

As mentioned above, Adebawore is not a prospect that will excel no matter where he ends up. This is a player in need of development at the NFL level as his role could be anything from an early-down run-stopper to a late-down pass-rusher. His upside is sky-high, but his floor is pretty low, too.

Adebawore's name has been brought up in discussions involving the first, second or third round of the upcoming draft. I'll focus on fit here as a result and project him to land with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints lost Marcus Davenport to free agency and finished last in pass rush win rate (28.5%) last year.

Giving defensive coordinator Joe Woods an exciting hybrid pass rusher ready to be molded into an NFL star would be a great welcoming gift. New Orleans could opt to avoid a risk and take Adebawore at No. 29 overall, but it could also wait and see if he is on the board in the second round (40 overall).

Prediction: New Orleans Saints (Round 1, 29th overall or Round 2, 40th overall)

Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:

Adetomiwa Adebawore NFL Combine Results

Adetomiwa Adebawore Northwestern Stats

Adetomiwa Adebawore Northwestern Highlights

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.