A Colts free agent is expected to have more interest on the market than many realize, and it likely means he won’t be back
NFL Insider shares an update pointing to one of the Colts’ in-house free agents making more money in free agency than many expect.
Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce are the clear top two in-house free agents for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. As a result, all eyes are on them as the Colts look to retain them ahead of adding any outside free agents this offseason.
The team has multiple other free agents, though, and as a result, could lose some key contributors from their roster over the past few years. Other notable free agents include safety Nick Cross, right tackle Braden Smith, and edge rusher Kwity Paye.
An NFL insider shared an update on Paye specifically, and it looks like his free-agent market may be more robust than anyone expected.
Colts EDGE Kwity Paye listed as a sleeper free agent by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
“Colts pass rusher Kwity Paye: He could be the fourth rusher on the market behind Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips, and Odafe Oweh. He has 30.5 sacks over 74 starts.” – ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
The Colts drafted Paye in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s spent the previous five years with the team, recording 30.5 sacks, 37 tackles for loss, and 50 QB hits in 75 games. His best stretch as a player came in 2023 and 2024, when he recorded back-to-back years of eight or more sacks, including his career high of 8.5 in 2023.
This past year, Paye’s play dropped, with him having his worst season since his rookie year. He tied his career low with only four sacks and nine QB hits, and now is set to become a free agent. Most Colts fans seem ready for the team to move on from Paye, but Fowler’s report makes it sound like he may price himself out of Indianapolis either way.
Colts EDGE Kwity Paye’s career stats
- 2021: 15 games, 4 sacks, 32 total tackles, 10 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss
- 2022: 12 games, 6 sacks, 45 total tackles, 10 QB hits, 10 tackles for loss
- 2023: 16 games, 8.5 sacks, 52 total tackles, 9 QB hits, 8 tackles for loss
- 2024: 15 games, 8 sacks, 41 total tackles, 12 QB hits, 10 tackles for loss
- 2025: 17 games, 4 sacks, 39 total tackles, 9 QB Hits, 6 tackles for loss
The Colts need a reset in their edge rusher room, and this offseason gives them a great opportunity to do so. The only key contributors from the room still under contract with the team are Laiatu Latu and J.T. Tuimoloau. It seems safe to assume Paye wouldn’t have been back even if his pricetag wasn’t expected to be so high.
I do think the Colts and their fans should be rooting for Paye to get the largest possible contract he can, though. Him landing a massive deal would give the team a chance at a solid compensatory pick come 2027.
The team’s trade for Sauce Gardner left them without a first-round pick in both the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts. So any additional picks the team can earn would be a major win, and it seems Paye could be an outlet for that to happen.
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