What to know: Packers hosting Northwestern edge rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore

Later this week, the Green Bay Packers will be hosting Northwestern edge rusher Adetomiwa Adebawore on an official top-30 visit prior to the draft, according to Tom Pelissero.

Adebawore is an incredibly impressive athlete, especially for his size. Measuring in at 6’2″ – 282 pounds, he posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.84, which included a 4.49-second 40-time, a 37.5-inch vertical, and a 10’05” broad jump. This was the third-best in what is a very deep and athletic edge rusher class.

With size and athleticism, Adebawore checks two boxes that the Packers typically covet at the edge rusher position. He also brings versatility as well. Of his 1,854 career snaps, 1,180 came as a traditional edge rusher, but Adebawore had another 637 lined up along the interior, according to PFF ($$).

The majority of his playing time came in the last two seasons, although he as four years of experience. During that two-year span, Adebawore recorded 61 pressures and 11 sacks. In 2022 specifically, he ranked 28th among all edge rushers in run stops, although throughout his career, missed tackles were an issue.

At a loaded position, Adebawore is PFF’s ninth-ranked edge rusher but still within the top 50 on their overall big board. If the Packers are going to select him, they’ll have to hope he makes it to pick 45, or potentially they’ll have to trade up for him. Now for a closer look at Adebawore’s game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote:

"“Adebawore seems like a positional tweener, checking in a little short for the edge and a little light for the interior. However, he was able to handle himself at the point of attack at the Senior Bowl and is just a few hearty meals away from checking in at a weight that could pass for an even front three-technique. He’s a powerful man who wins with force over fluidity. He will need better play recognition in the future, but his explosive first contact and ability to play under his opponent’s pads could earn him a spot as a base end with sub-package rush ability or simply as a rotational interior defender.”"

Where Adebawore lines up in the NFL likely depends on what team drafts him, as some may have him take the majority of his snaps from the interior defensive line position. For what it’s worth, and as already mentioned, Green Bay does prefer big-bodied edge defenders, with Rashan Gary over 270 pounds nad Preston Smith over 265 pounds.

Regardless, what Adebawore would provide Green Bay is options at two positions where depth is very much needed, and my guess is that the Packers would choose to move him around – which we’ve seen them do with Gary – rather than sticking him at just one position.

Without Gary for the second half of the 2022 season, the Packers’ edge rushers were unable to generate regular pressure on the quarterback, nor did they contain the run, in general, all that well. This then has a negative trickle-down effect on the rest of the defense.

Green Bay is also in need of added depth inside, with just five interior defenders on the roster at the moment, only three of which have any NFL experience. Step one to improving the defense is with more consistent play up front.

At both positions, where defenders are heavily rotated, Adebawore could become an immediate member of either rotation.