Kwity Paye was the 21st overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, which means he’s talented, but what exactly did the Las Vegas Raiders pay for this offseason?
Raiders general manager John Spytek executed his plan to revamp the defense masterfully. Using both free agency and the draft, Spytek reshaped the look of this unit heading into the 2026 season. While new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard will require time to put all the pieces together, the need for more of a pass rush is ever present. One solution was bringing in Paye.
However, that calculation might have been somewhat overestimated.
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The Indianapolis Colts, who drafted Paye originally, had high expectations for the ex-Michigan Wolverine. As it turns out, Paye developed into a solid run defender. As nice of a compliment as that comes off as, it’s actually a concern. The Raiders have invested nearly $16 million a year for production that doesn’t stand out in any way.
Did the Raiders overpay for Kwity Paye?
Paye never had double-digit sack totals in any of his seasons thus far. His best year was in 2023, when he started all 16 regular season games for the Colts. His totals recorded were 8.5 sacks, 32 solo tackles, nine QB hits, and two forced fumbles. It’s a solid stat line, for sure. However, last year saw a meaningful decline in production in all prevalent categories, including tackles for a loss, where he amassed a measly six as opposed to 10 in 2024.
You know it’s a concerning matter when the Colts are projecting Arden Key to be a better fit this season than Paye would’ve been.
When you consider the price tag and the obvious decline, you begin to wonder if Spytek overpaid for average talent. Conversely, the Raiders were 3-14 last season and for many teams in that position, you have to overpay sometimes. For now, it’ll be intriguing to see how Leonard implements Paye and attempts to maximize his value.
*Top Photo: Mike Mulholland/MLive.com