5 players that have to step up for Colts to turn things around in 2023

4. Kwity Paye must step up for Colts

Kwity Paye showed some really great flashes in just 12 games last year for this Colts' defense. He finished with 45 tackles with six sacks and was a menace on this defensive line that will be great again this year. However, Paye has the potential to be one of the better rushers in the entire league, and now that he is entering his third season, it is time for him to show just how great he can be, and what his ceiling is.

Nobody is going to ask this guy to be Myles Garrett, but especially early on, this young offense will need the defense to step up in a big way to allow room for error.

Staying healthy will also be important for him to have the breakout season that the Colts know he can have, but many times that is out of a player's control. However, Paye missed two games as a rookie and five in his second season. It’d be interesting to see what he can do with a healthy 17 games.

Paye stepping up also opens everything up for Deforest Buckner and Grover Stewart to make things happen at those defensive tackles spot. You also have Dayo Odeyingbo who can make that next step as well, but Paye will need to be a strong link in what could be one of the best defensive lines in the entire NFL.