Don deal; The Indianapolis Colts had to sign three multiple players for two-year contract in 2024.
The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Houston Texans in Week 18, which put them at 9-8 and just outside of the playoff picture. Almost nobody who covers the NFL anticipated this finish. Shane Steichen put on a Coach of the Year-caliber performance in his debut season as the Indianapolis frontman.
Some notable players improved significantly from the previous season, including guard Will Fries, defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Samson Ebukam, and linebacker E.J. Speed.
There is always room for improvement, though, as there are 53 players on the active roster. In light of that, the following three Colts players need to perform at their highest level in 2024.
Kwity Paye | Defensive End August 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Kwity Paye (51), a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, plays at Lincoln Financial Field against the Philadelphia Eagles. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Eric Hartline
© USA TODAY Sports/Eric Hartline
Including Kwity Paye, a former Michigan first-round selection, on this list may seem harsh, given that he just set a career-high in tackles (52), sacks (8.5), and forced fumbles (2). In addition, Paye performed admirably in run defense, earning a strong 78.1 rating from Pro Football Focus.
He is ranked on this list because of his consistent ability to get to the quarterback, which is the subject of criticism.
Although Paye trailed Ebukam (9.5) in sacks on the team, he was frequently not part of applying pressure to the opposing field general.
He played 410 pass-rushing snaps this season and recorded 28 pressures on the quarterback. Although this seems like a wide margin, Paye needs to get better in order to be considered a first-round pick, as backup and rotational end Tyquan Lewis recorded 44 pressures on just 259 pass-rushing snaps.
During his year-end press conference, general manager Chris Ballard responded as follows to a question regarding Paye’s first three seasons with the Indianapolis Indians:
“Well, better. Fantastic against the run. This year, I believe he had his highest sack total. He needs to improve on rushing the passer, among other things, but overall, he’s a good football player. Our front played really well, in my opinion. Our defensive line played very well, in my opinion.
As Paye’s offseason progresses, we’ll see how that works out for him. In 2024, the Colts will have the option to accept or reject his fifth-year contract.
