The Indianapolis Colts have not won the AFC South since 2014, but they came within one torturous drive in the home loss to Houston that closed out last season from making the playoffs.
Now, the squad looks to build off last year’s nine wins, which was a quite respectable five-game improvement from 2022.
To make this happen, the team must have solid play from young quarterback Anthony Richardson as well as a stout defensive effort.
Defensive end Kwity Paye believes the second half of that equation is assured, and the Indianapolis defense will be a dominant force.
Paye declared to the Draft Network’s Justin Melo that his career has seen a production progression and that the best is yet to come.
He recalled having 4.0 sacks as a Colts rookie, 6.0 in his second season and an impressive 8.5 in 2023.
Colts’ Kwity Paye “shooting for 12-15 sacks,” DL dominance: “We want to be the best defensive line in the league” https://t.co/kQRAt2ygnv pic.twitter.com/KfXypmZDZb
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 5, 2024
Heading into 2024, Paye said he is “shooting for 12-15 sacks” and to be part of a dominating defense in Indianapolis.
The goal, the fourth-year former first-round pick explained, is “to be the best defensive line in the NFL.”
Indeed, the D-line boasts considerable talent with tackle DeForest Buckner’s two-year extension and the return of tackle Grover Stewart from a suspension.
The Colts also signed tackle Raekwon Davis, who spent his last four seasons with the Dolphins.
Not content to stop there, general manager Chris Ballard took UCLA’s Laiatu Latu to improve the pass rush at No. 15.
The team already boasted four defenders with at least eight sacks in 2023, so it would not be surprising that the upgrades result in even more pressure this fall.
