Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye was named to Pro Football Focus’ 2021 All-Rookie team following the 2021 regular season.
As the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, there was a lot of hype for Paye after the selection was made. His character, athleticism and upside led many to believe he has the makings of being a cornerstone piece in the front seven for years to come.
While it wasn’t a dominating rookie season, it was one that showed plenty of promise for Paye. It was enough to earn him a spot on PFF’s All-Rookie team.
There were no questions about Paye’s athleticism coming out of Michigan. He posted a 99th-percentile bench press among edge defenders, a 97th-percentile 40-yard dash and a 76th-percentile vertical jump. And those results leave out the agility drills, which Paye would have likely crushed too, had he tested them officially.
That athleticism flashed in some high-quality pass-rush wins that led to Paye leading all rookie edge defenders with a 71.3 pass-rushing grade. The sack numbers (4.0 sacks) weren’t quite there, but those should come if he continues to win his pass-rushing reps at the same rate he did in 2020.
Finishing his rookie season with 4.0 sacks isn’t all that impressive. However, his 39 total pressures were tied for the fourth-most in the NFL among rookies. There are certainly worse starts to a career than that.
Paye flashed enough upside to warrant optimism moving forward. He must continue working on his technique and pass-rushing plan, which should help with the inconsistent nature of play he saw during the 2021 season.
The Colts need to address their pass rush again during the 2022 offseason but Paye’s rookie season showed enough that they may not be starting at square one.
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