According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Indianapolis Colts free agent starting defensive end Kwity Paye signed a 3-year, $48 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, with the contract details reported by NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
As the Colts 2021 first round pick, and the 21st overall pick in that past year’s class, Paye would ultimately start 74 games during his five seasons in Indianapolis, compiling 30.5 career sacks during that same span.
He started 16 games for the Colts this past season, recording 39 tackles (15 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 38 QB pressures, and a pass defensed. Per PFF, Paye earned a +59.0 overall grade, which was ranked as the 86th best among 115 total qualifying defensive edges, which his highest grade was his +65.8 run defense grade.
The problem with Paye though, despite his prior first round pedigree and elite physical traits, is that he never became anything more with Indianapolis, than he was at the University of Michigan, as an impact run stopper.
The Colts couldn’t develop him much further as a pass rusher, and at 27-years-old, his calling card in the pros remains his ability to set the edge and hold his ground and crashing in on run defense, while offering a bit of pass rushing from the outside edge—albeit nothing consistently impactful.
It’s not that Paye is a bad player by any means, as a serviceable run-stopping starter who also offers durability and high character. He just never lived up to his high draft billing with the Colts, especially when the Minnesota Vikings selected left tackle Christian Darrisaw in the first round right behind him (who I loved in that class!).
It was reported recently that Paye was considered a “free agent sleeper” among league executives, and his agent made good on that national report today by landing a lucrative multi-year deal from the rebuilding Raiders for his client.
Looking back at the Colts though, the two defensive ends they selected in the first and second rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft Class, Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo, didn’t earn second contracts in Indianapolis and are no longer with the team. Yes, they garnered big money deals elsewhere, but how can you reasonably rationalize that as success stories—when there were such little returns on their initial investments?
The Colts did sign Tennessee Titans veteran free agent edge Arden Key earlier on Monday, who may help to replace some of the lost production from Paye along the defensive line—who knows, maybe even as the new starter opposite fellow edge Laiatu Latu.
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