INDIANAPOLIS – Last week, the Indianapolis Colts used the No. 15 overall pick to acquire a player they believed was the best defensive player in the NFL draft.
That was UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.
But that immediately begged a discussion.
Did general manager Chris Ballard find a long-term pressure partner for Kwity Paye?
Or did he find Paye’s eventual replacement?
We’ll know no later than Thursday.
That’s the deadline for teams to exercise the fifth-year option for 2021 first-round draft picks.
Latu is the first edge rusher taken by the Colts in round 1 since Paye, the No. 21 overall pick in ’21.
So, what to do? The cost of Paye’s fifth-year option: $13.4 million. Guaranteed.
“We’ll work through that next week,’’ Ballard said Thursday night. “But, Kwity is a really good football player. He had what, 8.5 sacks last year, plays the crap out of the run, 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.”
But $13.4 million a lot?
In the grand scheme, that’s not an exorbitant cap hit, especially for a starting defensive end who’ll be 26. And especially when quarterback Anthony Richardson is heading into the second year of his rookie contract.
The Colts are projected to have roughly $48 million in cap space for 2025.
But what can’t be ignored are other pending personnel issues. Next year’s free-agent class includes Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly, linebacker E.J. Speed and Dayo Odeyingbo, a second-round pick from Paye’s ’21 draft class.
Also, Ballard might have to pony up and reward Bernhard Raimann if he continues to emerge as the Colts’ left tackle of the future. That probably requires a multi-year deal averaging at least $15-16 million annually.
Everything’s connected, and requires serious internal discussion.
Right now, that discussion centers around Paye. It’s hard to imagine Ballard and his personnel staff haven’t already decided their move.
Ballard described the Colts’ defensive line room as “really good.’’
“I think our defensive front is the best since we’ve been here,’’ he said. “It’s excellent.
“It’s excellent and really excited about it.’’
Does that excitement have a one-year shelf life? The decision might be whether to invest further in Paye or Odeyingbo. It probably will be difficult to retain both.
If the Colts choose not to exercise Paye’s fifth-year option, he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. That wouldn’t preclude them from trying to re-sign Paye if he continues to show the progress he’s made, but the open market is enticing to every player and the price generally goes up.
Or do the Colts believe Paye and Latu can form a longer-term tag team?
Ballard viewed Latu as one of the draft’s “elite players.’’
“He’s a natural rusher,’’ he said. “Any time you can rush the passer – you got a guy that can rush the passer – you got a chance to be a difference maker.
“I think he’s going to produce pretty quickly as a rusher, I think he knows how to rush.’’
A bond already has been formed. Paye and Latu, along with Odeyingbo, have been training with noted d-line coach Eddy McGilvra.
“I can’t wait to get with guys like Kwity Paye, Buck (DeForest Buckner) and Dayo,’’ Latu said. “Me and Kwity have been training a lot in the offseason together with Coach Eddy.
“So, I’m getting a little feel for him and just kind of looking up to dudes like that. I just met Zaire (Franklin) when I was leaving Detroit. They were kind of giving me really good advice and just telling me to be ready and let’s rock.”
In three seasons, Paye has established himself as solid, not spectacular.
He’s started 43 games and collected 18.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. Paye has boosted his sack totals each season: 4 as a rookie, 6 in 2022 and 8.5 last season. He’s been credited with at least 9 quarterback hits each season and had 31 pressures in ’23.
Solid, but not spectacular.
According to Pro Football Focus, Paye posted his highest grade in 2023: 74.3. But that ranked No. 36 among edge rushers. Teammate Samson Ebukam, who led the Colts with 9.5 sacks, ranked No. 14 at 84.4.
As Ballard mentioned, the Colts prefer to re-sign their own. This offseason, they did so with Kenny Moore II, Grover Stewart, Tyquan Lewis and Rigoberto Sanchez. They extended Michael Pittman Jr., Zaire Franklin and Buckner.
What to do with Kwity Paye?