Kwity Paye never quite played like a first-round pick for the Indianapolis Colts. He was just that in 2021, though, when he was chosen 21st overall out of Michigan. He became a solid run-stopper, but not a great pass rusher, and that last part is what he needed to be.
As part of a defensive overhaul this offseason, Indy didn't make much of a pitch to keep Paye, and he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year and $48 million deal. $16 million a season might be a bit too rich for a player who won't be overly impactful at chasing down quarterbacks.
The Raiders should have known that, though. Las Vegas does still have Maxx Crosby, though the team tried to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens before Baltimore decided Crosby's knee injury wasn't worth the risk and backed out of the deal. That he will be in Vegas might help Paye, but likely not.
Former Indianapolis Colts edge rusher Kwity Paye likely not what the Las Vegas Raiders need
In 2025, Paye played with ascending edge rusher Laiatu Latu, and the former didn't impress. He finished with 38 total pressures, one short of his career high, which came in his rookie year. A high-end edge player should have far more than 40 pressures in a season regularly, though. Paye might have a decent floor, but he has a low ceiling.
He clearly isn't overly motivated by money, either. Otherwise, how can some argue the opposite when, in his walk year, and after having eight sacks in 2023 and 2024, he had just four in 2025? His missed tackle rate also jumped to 15.4 percent, more than double his previous career low.
What the Indianapolis Colts hope is that the player tasked with being Paye's clear replacement, Arden Key, can be a more well-rounded edge rusher. Key, to be sure, hasn't been elite in his eight seasons in the NFL and has never had eight sacks in a single season. He does have a higher ceiling overall.
He matches Paye in terms of run-defense efficiency, misses a lot more tackles than the player who is now with the Raiders, and hasn't been trusted to last more than three seasons with any of the four teams he has played for. Still, maybe he will be the kind of proper fit in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense that Kwity Paye clearly wasn't.
The Las Vegas Raiders were only 3-14 last season, but have made changes that should make them better. They have hired a new head coach in Klint Kubiak, and their defense was revamped, too, but the addition of Paye isn't likely to yield the production they hope for. Not unless Vegas wanted a good run-stopper at $16 million a season.
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