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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, Indianapolis Colts starting defensive end Kwity Paye is included in their handful of ‘free agent sleepers’ they heard buzz about among league executives at the NFL Combine this past week in Indianapolis:
Colts pass rusher Kwity Paye: He could be the fourth rusher on the market behind Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh. He has 30.5 sacks over 74 starts.
Originally a 2021 first round pick of the Colts, the 27-year-old veteran defensive end, always with impressive physical traits out of Michigan, hasn’t developed into the high-impact outside pass rusher that Indianapolis was ideally hoping for when they made him that draft class’s 21st overall pick.
Having made 74 starts over the past 5 seasons, with 30.5 career sacks during that same span, Paye’s calling card has actually been in run defense, where he routinely sets the edge and holds his ground out there.
Even though not spectacular, Paye’s become a solid starting defensive end for the Colts—although arguably not worth his prior first round draft pedigree at this point in time.
Similar to former Colts teammate, and fellow 2021 draft class member and defensive end, Dayo Odeyingbo, it’s possible that Paye could find a surprisingly robust external market once he hits free agency.
As you’ll recall, Odeyingbo signed a 3-year, $48 million deal with the Chicago Bears last offseason, but also offered more projected versatility and pass rushing. Also, at 25-years-old when signing with Chicago last year, Odeyingbo had more theoretical upside and potential than Paye at that time respectively.
Longtime Colts general manager Chris Ballard has already stated this offseason that Indianapolis needs to get younger and faster among its front seven defensively next year. Does that mean moving on without Paye?
With both starting quarterback Daniel Jones and wideout Alec Pierce as their upcoming priority free agents, the Colts may be hard-pressed to also bring back Paye, with their available team salary cap space at a premium.
Outside of ascending 3rd-year edge Laiatu Latu, the Colts face a lot of question marks at the defensive end position, as veterans Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis are also pending free agents along with Paye.
For what it’s worth, Spotrac currently projects Paye to earn a 3-year, $53.6 million deal on his next NFL contract.
The Colts currently have a projected $33.2M of available team salary cap space, but have some flexibility to free up more, particularly as it relates to wideout Michael Pittman Jr.’s looming projected $29 million cap hit, which doesn’t seem realistically sustainable, with their existing team needs and greater priorities elsewhere.