2021 NFL Draft: Michigan edge Kwity Paye scouting report

Film review

When watching Paye’s film at Michigan, it is easy to get a little underwhelmed at first. With just 10.5 sacks in 26 games, Paye’s highlight reel is missing a lot of the big-time, splash plays fans love to watch before the draft. But is a defensive end better prepared for the NFL if he has a catalog of 20 or so sacks, where an offensive blown coverage is usually why he was successful?

It would be a sinch to be dismissive of Paye as a prospect when edge rushers like Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari had more sacks and a more exciting highlight reel. Ergo, Ojulari must be a better NFL prospect, right?

But it takes more than just stats and highlights to measure the value of a college defensive end. Watching Paye on film, the first thing that becomes apparent is how technically skilled he is. Paye has almost no bad habits, doesn’t rely on grabbing onto pass blockers, and rarely draws penalty flags.

When setting the edge, Paye is a near immovable obstacle that prevents tackles and halfbacks from moving into open space. In short, he is an anchor on the strong side that requires offensive double teams to even disrupt his placement.

Michigan used Paye as a versatile defensive lineman, who could realistically protect any gap assignment at the line of scrimmage. While Paye occasionally lined up in a 2-point stance for Michigan, he was utilized far more often as a 3-point, outside-the-tackle, 9-tech defensive end. But he also has the speed to drop into coverage or play as an outside linebacker in the NFL.

There is footage of him on the internet running a 6.37 3-cone drill and during Michigans Pro Day Paye ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. Remember this is a prospect that weighs 272-pounds and plays defensive end. For some context, Odell Beckham Jr. ran a 4.43 at his Scouting Combine. Paye is incredibly fast at the line of scrimmage and NFL scouts have started to pay attention.

Paye looks best when he is protecting against the run. He can stack and shed offensive blockers far bigger than himself. Paye quickly closed run-gaps at the line of scrimmage on Michigans defensive line. Out of all the defensive ends in the 2021 NFL Draft, Paye is by far the most qualified to be a Week One starter on early-down run-plays.

While run-blocking may not be the most exciting thing to watch (when compared to an open-field sack against a shrinking quarterback), his technique shows a high level of aptitude and training.

As a pass-rusher, Paye is more than qualified to play in the NFL. With 12.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks in 2019, Paye showed he could outmuscle and outmaneuver his opponents in the Big Ten. The issue that comes up most often is his technique. Rather than finding unique, interesting paths around blockers (spin moves, misdirection, etc.), Paye seemed to win more often by pure force and strength.

As a bull-rusher, there’s no one else in this year’s draft that compares to Paye. But his toolkit is expanding: Paye improved his overall technique as a pass-rusher, having one of the highest win percentages during the four games he suited up for Michigan last season.

In an interview with PFF’s Austin Gayle and Mike Renner, Paye discussed the process of how he improved his pass-rushing skills during the 2020 offseason. He spent time with coaches, learning how to master a cross-chop technique, an increasingly popular and effective way for pass-rushers to circumvent offensive tackles in the NFL.

Paye talked about how he studied footage of NFL players like Yannick Ngakoue (one of the premier cross-chopping edge rushers today) and changed his approach accordingly.

This anecdote not only shows how much Paye has improved as a pass-rusher but also his coachability and his willingness to take constructive criticism. Paye may not be the most technical pass-rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft. But with the year-to-year improvements he showed at Michigan combined with his raw athletic profile, most draft scouts agree Paye will have an impressive career in the NFL.

Paye has the potential to be a top-five edge rusher by the end of his rookie contract.