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These Colts Pass Rushers Could Be a Great Duo for Years to Come

Originally posted on FanNation All Colts | By Drake Wally | Last updated 6/4/23

It’s been quite some time since the Indianapolis Colts had a serious tandem on the edge for their defense. Former edge rushers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were the last duo that wreaked havoc upon offensive tackles and opposing quarterbacks, often tallying 10-plus sacks each per season.

However, that was then, and this is now.

Currently, the Colts have two young and vibrant talents in Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo. Both were selected in the same 2021 NFL Draft, with Paye going in the first round (21st overall) and Odeyingbo the very next round (54th overall). Odeyingbo was more of the patient pick, as he was rehabbing an Achilles injury at the time.

Since drafting these two athletic edge rushers, it’s been up and down for both in different ways. Paye has shown glimpses of great talent but has struggled with nagging injuries while Odeyingbo had a slower start to his career but hit a hot streak at the end of the 2022 season.

This piece will discuss what each one brings to the table in 2023 and beyond and how, together, they can be a menace for any offensive coordinator to handle for years to come.

What Kwity Paye Brings to the Defense

Paye was drafted out of Michigan for his well-rounded skillset at the edge position. In his rookie season, he showed good efficiency through 15 games by tallying 4.0 sacks and 10 quarterback hits. However, it was his 2022 season when he took off.

While he only played 12 games due to injuries, he made the most of those snaps. During that time, he ripped off 6.0 sacks, 45 tackles, and another 10 QB hits. He also threw in the third-most QB pressures on the defensive line with 34 behind only DeForest Buckner (56) and Yannick Ngakoue (44), who both played at least 99 more passing snaps on defense than Paye.

Not to mention, he brings a great skillset to stop the run. Last season, per Pro Football Focus, he was the Colts' defensive line's highest-graded player at 76.6. This was an area where the Colts struggled with him on the sideline.

It’s difficult to argue that Paye wouldn’t have pushed nine or ten sacks and continued to smash opposing runners had he stayed healthier in 2022. He will be looked at to take another step in 2023 and lead the pass-rushing attack for the Colts. If Paye can maintain his presence on the field, he will be a massive piece to the defensive front and could keep setting career highs in multiple categories.

Next, we’ll cover the one known as “Hurricane Dayo.”

What Dayo Odeyingbo Brings to the Defense

After using most of his rookie campaign to recover from injury, Odeyingbo’s 2022 season could be considered his rookie year.

While he only played ten games in 2021, he played in all 17 contests last year. He did start a bit slower to kick things off but caught fire in the latter half of the franchise’s forgettable regular season.

Odeyingbo was able to accumulate 25 pressures on just 292 pass-rush snaps, good for fourth on the defensive front. He was also able to start finding his rhythm by grabbing 5.0 sacks and 11 QB hits while tallying 5 tackles for loss.

While Odeyingbo can get better at his run defense, he is still developing and has had one true year of football rather than two.

Given his trajectory through the end of the 2022 campaign, it will be interesting to see how far he progresses after adding 11 more pounds of pure muscle to his already massive frame. Look for Odeyingbo to be a problem with his size and athleticism for offensive lines to handle.

What They Can Accomplish Together

With both Paye and Odeyingbo healthy and focused on football, the sky is the limit for their potential as a tandem.

While it’s a bit early to compare them to the aforementioned Colts legends Mathis and Freeney, it’s fair to state that the potential is there.

Package in the likes of Samson Ebukam, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Tyquan Lewis being on the same front as them, and it can allow multiple opportunities. These are the counterparts on the interior and defensive rotation that guys like Paye and Odeyingbo need to help them find their sacks, pressures, and true potential.

Dealing with all six of these monsters on the defensive front cannot be a fun thought for an offensive coordinator. Should Paye and Odeyingbo start to take advantage of the open gaps that Buckner and Stewart open, it could be a combination of 15-plus sacks between the two.

Now, get Ebukam and Lewis rotating in so the aforementioned duo can get proper rest (Ebukam is slated to start opposite of Paye at end). It could be even more, despite it being a bit of a “hot take” this early in the 2023 season for Indianapolis.

Outlook

Paye and Odeyingbo have high ceilings entering a new era of Colts football. Both have had interesting and spotty beginnings to their NFL careers and haven’t had the chance to shine for an entire season with a full defensive workload.

For 2023, this can change with the entire defensive front being as imposing as it is. Can these two defensive juggernauts find their footing early? If they do, it could be a huge year for the Colts and may even help push the franchise sack record.