Colts' Kwity Paye Named a Potential 2026 Target for Detroit Lions

With the NFL regular season quickly approaching, it is becoming more unlikely that the Detroit Lions are going to solve their pass rush problem before the season begins.

They entered this offseason with a major need for an edge rusher, but haven't made a move that really addressed the issue.

Instead they re-signed Marcus Davenport, who has had a long list of injuries during his NFL career and hasn't been the most consistent when healthy, and spent a sixth-round pick on Ahmed Hassanein.

Fans will be hoping next offseason won't see the Lions repeat this approach and Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine has an idea for a target who could help the Lions fix their problem.

In a recent article discussing NFL teams' long-term needs, Ballentine listed an edge rusher as the biggest need for the Lions during the 2026 offseason and identified Indianapolis Colts edge Kwity Paye as a potential target.

I'm not sure that an edge rusher will be the team's biggest need next offseason. A center or a guard feels like it will be a bigger need depending on where the Lions want Tate Ratledge to spend the rest of his career.

An edge rusher is definitely going to be a need, though.

The Lions have needed one all offseason and I think that if they're really going to compete for a Super Bowl during the 2025 season, then they are going to have to add a pass rusher some time between now and the trade deadline.

However, anybody they add in that timeframe is likely to be a short-term rental like Za'Darius Smith ended up being last season.

That would put them right back in the hunt next offseason, which could lead them to Paye.

Paye has turned into a solid investment for the Colts since they drafted him 21st overall in 2021.

He had 8.5 sacks in 2023 and then followed that up with eight sacks in 15 games this past season.

Paye isn't going to be the star of his 2026 free agent class with players like Trey Hendrickson, Micah Parsons, Odafe Oweh, and Khalil Mack all currently set to hit free agency alongside him. However, he could be the most interesting option in a price range that works for the Lions.

With Aidan Hutchinson already on one side of their defensive line, they don't need a star on the other side. They just need somebody they can depend on to produce regularly.

Paye could be that player and while he won't be cheap, he should be somebody the Lions can figure out how to afford next offseason.