Colts Kwity Paye has blossomed into a top-tier run defender

Once hopeful for a top-tier pass rusher, Kwity Paye has turned into much more than a one-trick pony.

Defensive end Kwity Paye recently had his fifth-year option picked up by the Indianapolis Colts. Paye’s reliability and consistent progression during his first three seasons in the NFL proved why Chris Ballard and Co. weren’t willing to risk losing him despite the Colts employing one of the deepest defensive fronts in the entire league.

As alluded to, many believed the writing was on the wall for Kwity Paye once Indy elected to use its first draft selection in 2024, number 15th overall, on a player at his position. Once Paye’s fifth-year option was picked up, a collective confusion from the fanbase ensued.

On the surface, it makes sense why some might jump to this conclusion: the aforementioned draft selection of a promising player at his position, adding to a group that’s arguably the team’s deepest, an assumption that his sack totals from a season ago are due to Indy’s deep defensive line, etc. These are fair concerns to have, but only if they’re surface-level.

Although he was the second edge rusher taken in his respective draft class (2021), Kwity Paye was never expected to be a perennial 10+ sack player. Yes, the hope is that any 1st round pass rusher will indeed rush the quarterback at a high level, but scoffing at a raw player for turning into an elite edge defender who still has pass rush upside is malpractice in itself.

As suggested, Kwity Paye has blossomed into a top-tier run defender throughout his 3-year career in the NFL. Paye is 1 of 4 defensive ends (Maxx Crosby, Nick Bosa, & Alex Highsmith) ranked in the Top 12 of Run Defense grades for the past 2 seasons, per PFF.

During those three seasons in the NFL, Paye has posted a 9.2 pressure rate which is below average for edge defenders. The average pass rusher generates a pass rush win rate of 10.3 percent and in 2023, Paye reached exactly that mark.

While his sack totals are rising incrementally, Paye’s emergence as an elite run defender remains the driving force for his value. If Paye can continue progressing as a pass rusher like he has shown, his fifth-year option price tag may end up being a steal after all.