Indianapolis Colts rookie defensive end Kwity Paye hit the ground running during the spring workouts and will have a chance to compete for a starting role throughout training camp and the preseason.
As ESPN reporters went through each first-round pick’s outings during the spring workouts, Mike Wells predicts Paye will be the starter on the defensive line opposite Tyquan Lewis.
“Paye, who had 11.5 sacks in his four seasons at Michigan, worked with the starters at defensive end during offseason workouts (the Colts didn’t hold minicamp). He will likely be the starter along with Tyquan Lewis on the other side in Week 1, barring poor play during training camp.
“You can tell when you ask him questions about a particular defense, he can dive into the detail and absorb that in a quick manner and be able to give it back out to us on the practice field,” defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. “Not really a surprise, but really a good thing to notice for him, because he can pick up a big amount of scheme in a short amount of time. That’s going to accelerate his play and accelerate him even faster, so we are excited about that.” — Mike Wells”
This shouldn’t really come as a surprise. First-round picks often find the field early, and Paye has a clear path to a relevant role in Week 1 at defensive end, an area the Colts are pretty thin when it comes to starters.
Paye has impressed since he’s arrived on the scene this spring. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus had nothing but praise when the spring workouts ended just before the team broke for summer.
The Colts will need Paye to make an impact his rookie season. The edge rusher has kept the defense from being an elite unit throughout the season. If Paye continues to ascend, that side of the ball will be a force in 2021.
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