In every which way, Kwity Paye’s 2023 season was his best so far.
Nonetheless, the Indianapolis Colts’ 2021 first-round pick believes there’s plenty more to prove -- and earn.
Tops on Paye’s 2024 individual checklist is continuing to improve his sack numbers -- as he’s done each year -- and crossing the double-digit threshold.
“I had (4.0) sacks as a rookie, (6.0) as a sophomore, and now 8.5 in my third season,” Paye told the Draft Network’s Justin Melo recently. “I definitely want to get at least 10.5 sacks this year. I’m really shooting for 12-15 sacks, but double digits is the goal at the end of the day. I have to get there this year.”
Paye posted career standards with his aforementioned 8.5 sacks, 52 tackles, two forced fumbles and was part of an underrated Colts front line that was fifth in the NFL with 51.0 sacks. His overall 74.3 PFF grade was also tops in his career, thus far.
One of the league’s deepest units, Indy had four players (Samson Ebukam, 9.5; Paye; DeForest Buckner, 8.0; and Dayo Odeyingbo, 8.0) with eight or more sacks. General manager Chris Ballard clearly wasn’t satisfied there, as the Colts were the first NFL team to select a defender in the spring, taking UCLA’s Laiatu Latu with the 2024 NFL Draft’s No. 15 pick.
Paye, whose prowess in the run game is arguably a strength over his pass rush, is on board with loading up the D-line.
“Our defensive line has gotten better every single season I’ve been here,” Paye said. “Last year, we broke the franchise single-season sack record for defensive linemen. We want to do it again this year.
“We had four guys with eight-plus sacks in 2023. This year, we’re trying to get guys even closer to that number, maybe add more to that number, or maybe we all hit 10-plus sacks. We’re excited for what’s to come.”
From what he’s seen so far, Paye believes there’s plenty to come from Latu, who’s looking to overcome injury concerns and has thus far shown a willingness to learn and improve his craft.
"He’s a go-getter and a hard worker. He’s all about football, man," Paye said of Latu. "All he wants to do is get better every single day. He wants to become the best pass rusher he can possibly be. He’s always asking questions. What did you see here, Kwity? Seeing his attitude coming in, he has the right approach.
“He’s very humble and he’s ready to work. It’s great for the room. He fits right in because we’re all humble and ready to put our best foot forward. We all welcome criticism from our teammates and coaches.”
Though Paye has improved incrementally each season, he was one of the most unpredictable 2021 first-rounders when it came to predicting if his fifth-year option would be picked up. It was, and Paye’s thankful for that and not looking to talk extension right now.
He’s a realist, it would seem, and he’s still got more to prove before he earns a big-money extension.
“I’m excited that Chris Ballard picked up my fifth year,” he said. “I see it as a prove-it thing now more than anything. I want to prove that I’m what this team needs in a pass rusher moving forward.
“I’m going to get out there and get the sacks, get the production. After I do that, we’ll have those contract discussions next offseason. For the most part, I’m not really worried about that [this year]. I’m worried about having my best season yet. We'll discuss all that other stuff [contract] next offseason.”
Due a paltry $2.5 million this season and $13.3 in 2025 on his club option, Paye would definitely garner a larger sum if he follows through with a double-digit-sack showing.
He’s improved by at least two sacks in every campaign, so it’s definitely doable for the 25-year-old out Michigan product who was born in Guinea.
That’s the goal for 2025, though. Before that, he’s got plenty to strive for individually and alongside his pass-rushing brethren, who are fast becoming one of the most daunting D-lines around.
“We want to be the best defensive line in the league,” he said. “We’re definitely working towards that. We think we’re capable of achieving that this season.”