The Indianapolis Colts drafted Kwity Paye 21st overall in the 2021 NFL draft because they felt he was talented and had a good character.
“It’s easy to draft talent. That’s not hard to do,” Ballard said. “But to draft talent with character, that’s difficult. That doesn’t always come together. And we’ve been really fortunate around here to be able to do it as part of who we are and what we look for, and our scouts do a tremendous job vetting each and every player and we have a very strict criteria of what we’re looking for.”
Paye, so far, has worked out.
The Indianapolis Colts 21st overall pick has worked out
Kwity Paye has been worth the pick since he’s gotten better in each of his first three seasons, recording 32 tackles, three TFLs, four sacks, and a 69.6 PFF Grade in 2021, 45 tackles, ten TFLs, six sacks, and a 69.6 PFF Grade in 2022, and 52 tackles, eight TFLs, 8.5 sacks, and a 74.3 PFF Grade in 2023.
Since Paye was a 1st round pick and finished his third season, his contract includes a 5th-year option worth $13.387 million, fully guaranteed for the 2025 season with a May 2 deadline.
The Colts have made their decision.
The Indianapolis Colts have made their decision
According to Stephen Holder of ESPN, the Colts exercised his 5th-year option.
“NEWS: The Colts have exercised the fifth-year option on 2021 first-round pick Kwity Paye’s contract. Keeps him under contract through 2025.”
General Manager Chris Ballard praised him for being a good football player.
“Kwity is a really good football player,” he said during last week’s NFL Draft. “He’s a great teammate. I think you know our philosophy. We want to keep as many of our own guys as we can. We like Kwity a lot.”
The Indianapolis Colts have a talented bunch of EDGE rushers
The Colts have a talented bunch of EDGE rushers, retaining Samson Ebukam (57 tackles, ten TFLs, and 9.5 sacks in 2023), Dayo Odeyingbo (38 tackles, nine TFLs, eight sacks in 2023), and Tyquan Lewis (25 tackles, nine TFLs, four sacks in 2023) for the 2024 season.
They also drafted Laiatu Latu 15th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Latu had 49 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, and 13 sacks in his last season with the UCLA Bruins.
Kwity Paye will be under contract for the next two seasons.
Where will the Indianapolis Colts rank in sacks in 2024?
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