The Colts made a big decision on a young player's future with the team

The Colts drafted Paye with the 21st pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. During his first three NFL seasons, he recorded 21 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits, and 18.5 sacks. Last season, he set his career high with 8.5 sacks, which was good enough to finish second on the Colts, just one sack behind Samson Ebukam. 

Paye was the third-drafted edge rusher in the 2021 class, with Micah Parsons (12th) and Jaelan Phillips (18th) being drafted ahead of him. Both Parsons and Phillips had their 5th-year options picked up by their teams. Parsons has since been one of the top edge rushers in the NFL, and Phillips has generated more overall pressure than Paye but has the same exact career highs in sacks at 8.5. 

Three other edge rushers ended up being drafted in the first round in 2021: Gregory Rousseau (30th), Odafe Oweh (31st), and Joe Tryon (32nd). Rousseau and Oweh had their 5th-year options picked up, but Tryon's option was also declined. Rousseau has combined for 17.0 sacks over his three years with his career high coming in 2022 with 8. He has also recorded 30 tackles for loss and 42 QB hits. Oweh has just 13.0 sacks during his first three NFL seasons and has recorded 16 tackles for loss and 38 QB hits. 

This decision now keeps Paye in Indianapolis the next two seasons. Where he will likely be the starter opposite of the Colts 2024 1st round pick Laiatu Latu. He now is set to make a fully guaranteed $13.4 million in 2025 and is set to become a free agent in 2026.