The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Kwity Paye 2021 NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Edge
Size: 6-foot-4, 272 pounds
Class: Senior
2020: 16 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks (four games played)
While his Michigan career didn’t end like he would’ve wanted, Paye was a solid player for the Wolverines. After four seasons at Michigan, Paye is heading to the NFL.
He was a three or four-star prospect depending on the recruiting service out of high school. As a freshman at Michigan, Paye played in nine games, but totaled just four tackles. His role increased as a sophomore with Paye racking up 27 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. The Wolverines won 10 games with Paye’s help that season. Paye took a big step forward as a junior with 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Michigan won nine games in 2019. For the 2020 season, Paye played just four games, but had 16 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. The Wolverines had a bad season, winning just two of their six games.
Paye had a chance to show off his unique physical traits at Michigan. Now he is a projected first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Kwity Paye
Paye has great size and will fit right in on an NFL defensive line. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, Paye will fits both what teams are looking for from a height and weight perspective. Pair those things with his physical ability and teams won’t have much to second-guess when selecting Paye. His strength is a great asset for him. At 272 pounds, he is bigger and stronger than a lot of defensive ends.
He has great athleticism, which was on display frequently at Michigan. Paye has great burst at the snap of the ball and gets off the line quickly. He has good speed and agility, which makes him hard to handle. His athleticism helps him chase down ball carriers or create pressure on quarterbacks.
Against the run, Paye shows great discipline. He has good gap integrity and funnels outside runs to the inside where defenders can make plays. Paye can shed blocks decently, but also shows good pursuit of the football. Once he gets to the ball-carrier, Paye is a solid tackler.
His lack of production will likely scare teams away. Paye has the physical traits of a first round pick, but doesn’t have the production of one. He has just 11.5 sacks over four years in college. He needs to refine his pass-rushing skills to get to the quarterback more often.
Paye needs to add more pass rushing moves and counters to his game to help him be more productive. He wins his matchups now because of his athleticism and strength, but if he adds more moves, he can be a more diverse and effective pass rusher.
While Paye is athletic and moves well, he doesn’t have much flexibility. He doesn’t show a great ability to bend and win the edge against offensive tackles. A lot of times Paye was good on stunts and twists, but could win on the edge more if he were more flexible.
Projected Draft Range: First Round Pick
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