One of the most intriguing names in the 2021 NFL Draft is Kwity Paye. The Michigan product is in consideration for the number one spot at edge, but is he really worth it? He came into this season bolstering new pass rush moves: that is hard to develop during a COVID offseason. Paye has been playing for years with quality pass rushers like Chase Winovich and others. Is this prospect the next quality starter from Michigan, or will he fall into mediocrity like other talents hailing from the same alma mater? Let’s find out.
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Kwity Paye
Jersey: #19
Position: Edge
School: Michigan
Class: Senior
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 272 lbs
Run Defense (7.25/10)
Paye is quite effective in the run game. He has solid pursuit angles and can play well against zone run plays (which is quite useful in a zone run-heavy league). The Michigan product’s pure power was demonstrated time and time again as he pushed back linemen (interior and exterior) into the backfield. Paye’s downfall lies in the fact that he gets too into the block: his eyes sometimes get locked in on dealing with the linemen, causing him to lose track of the play.
With time and confidence, this should become a rarer incident, but it is noteworthy. Also, he did have instances of solid block shedding at both the interior and exterior defensive line positions. Overall, Paye’s 13 offensive stops (according to PFF) in 4 games signifies how dominant of a run defender he can be at the next level so long as he keeps his eyes on the play around him and not the player in front of him. Note: This scale has 5.0 as average and 10.0 as the greatest of all time.
Pass Rush (7.25/10)
Paye has some amazing potential here. In the offseason, he demonstrated the ability to add moves to his arsenal. What this means is that he is willing and able to learn. That is wonderful for projecting Paye’s ceiling because it shows that he is not done growing. This said the Michigan product’s moves could still be cleaned up a bit more, especially using bend around the edge. Coaching should solve this easily. He is able to hand fight quite well in some reps.
One thing to note is that Paye got double-teamed a noticeable amount, which means college offensive coordinators tried to minimize his impact. This is due to the fact that Paye pushes the pocket on about 40% of his reps, which is astonishing. His moves combined with his athleticism prove that Paye is a force to be reckoned with. If the 13 stops in 4 games statistic were surprising, this prospect had 22 pressures in only 4 games this year. Yes, Paye can be special at the next level.
Length (8.0/10)
He may not be Elerson Smith’s level of length, but Paye certainly uses his length to its maximum potential. He uses his arms to keep linemen in range. This allows the Michigan product to dictate the play on his terms and allow for a plethora of moves. The major note here is that he used his length well on a very consistent basis. Overall, Paye may have the best usage of his length in this class.
Technique (6.75/10)
As stated before, Paye needs help with his bend around the edge. Well, that is his only noticeable flaw in regards to technique. Paye is raw in many categories, but they all appear to be easily translatable to the NFL. His hands are explosive and the prospect already shows a variety of pass rush moves. With further coaching, Paye may be one of (if not the) best edge defenders in this class.
Tackling (6.5/10)
The tape and the 2020 PFF grade (51.8) do not line up too much here. The tape showed very solid tackling on a consistent basis. Paye used his arms and hands to wrap up rather than using his body. On the other hand, PFF reports 4 missed tackles in the 4 games this year. The flashes shown by the Michigan product definitely project well to the next level with more coaching. Paye should be fine from the start here.
IQ (6.75/10)
Paye is hot and cold here. The prospect never seemed to get lost on any play. He even was able to sniff a screen out and defend it well. Even Paye’s mid-play adjustments were extremely solid. His only problem lies in the fact that he does get absorbed by the blocking and focuses solely on that and not the play. Again, with time and confidence, he will be fine. For now, his score will be dropped a bit.
Athleticism (8.25/10)
Wow. For a 270+ lb man, Paye can move. He does seem to lack true long speed, but his burst, footspeed, and strength are all amazing and fluid. Even his hands are quick and powerful. It is certainly a treat to watch Paye play solely from an athletic standpoint. Again, his burst is unbelievable: possibly the best in the class. Yes, that factors in edge rushers that are 40 pounds lighter than he is. Paye is an athletic freak, simply put.
Power or skill at the Point of Attack (7.0/10)
As stated before, Paye pushes the pocket 40% of the time. The slight inconsistency drives down the score a bit, but he surely deserves props. Paye’s punch has a noticeable reaction from linemen that drive them back unlike many edge rushers. It is hard to believe that he can possess athleticism and power all at the same time. In short, his power and pushback are rare.
Positional Versatility (8.0/10)
Paye played snaps at every position along the 4-3 line not to mention a couple of 3-4 outside linebacker reps. He will be most likely ineffective (58.3 PFF grade) in the coverage game, but everywhere else he is a fit. Paye even was used as an off-ball linebacker to be a spy. This player is going to be fun to watch in whatever scheme he goes to.
Competitive Toughness (5/5)
Paye truly works his tail off each and every play until the whistle has blown. It is hard to find a man with the mind and body of this prospect.
Injury (2.5/5)
Of all categories, Paye has to be bad in the last one, right? He was injured twice in this shortened COVID year not to mention other notable times in years prior. None of the injuries were too serious to impact him going forward, but his durability is a concern.
Player Summary
Wow, Paye surely lives up to and surpasses the hype. The pure athleticism and the developmental tools that he demonstrates provide such a lucrative prospect that it is hard to say no to taking him anywhere in the first round. With the right coaching (Robert Saleh has entered the chat) Paye may become one of the best steals in the class. On a not-so-great Michigan team, he was able to demonstrate that he has a place not only in the league but also in the first round. The sky’s the limit for Paye regardless of what other scouts say.
Final Grade (73.25/100): Top 15
Player Comp: Emmanuel Ogbah
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