With the NFL Draft just a week away, it's always fun to look back at previous drafts and think "What if?"
NFL.com's Adam Rank conducted a re-draft of the 2021 class including the No. 21 overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts when they took edge rusher Kwity Paye.
There wasn't a lot of drama involved in this pick for the Colts as Rank has Indianapolis sticking with Paye on his re-draft.
Injuries limited Paye to just 12 games in 2022, but he did manage to have six sacks in those games. And Paye made the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team playing for then-coordinator Matt Eberflus. So I'd stick with this pick. -- Adam Rank, NFL.com
Paye finished his rookie season strong with all four of his sacks coming in the Colts' final-eight games. Injuries limited him to just 12 games in 2022.
He was more consistent in his sophomore campaign with three sacks in his first-five games and three sacks in his final-six games.
He finished with a stout grade of 76.6 against the run according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) to go along with his sack numbers.
Rank had the Colts re-selecting Paye over Gregory Rousseau who he had going No. 28 to the New Orleans Saints. PFF gave Rousseau an 80.9, good for No. 20 overall among edge rushers (Paye's 69.6 was 45th).
Rousseau was the only edge rusher in Rank's re-draft to go in the first round after Paye. Rousseau finished last season with eight sacks in 13 games for the Buffalo Bills and has 12 in his career.
The Colts might think long and hard about that one with the benefit of hindsight.
The Colts felt good enough about the development of Paye that they haven't made re-signing Yannick Ngakoue a priority despite his leading the team in sacks with eight.
Indianapolis signed Samuel Ebukam to be Ngakoue's replacement, hoping to get better production against the run.
The Colts got a productive player in Paye with their No. 21 pick two seasons ago. They'll hope to have no doubts two years from now about the player they take with their No. 4 overall pick next week.
That pick could help shape the next decade for the Colts.
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