For Vikings, The Kwity Paye Pieces Are Stacking Up

Eagan MN

11 March, 2021

4:48 AM

Description

Press release from purplePTSD: March 10, 2021 Bleacher Report has done it again for the Minnesota Vikings. This time it was analyst Brent Sobleski. For the umpteenth time in the last few weeks, the University of Michigan's Kwity Paye (DE) ends up joining the Vikings with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. On Paye to the Vikings, Sobleski notes: "With Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen screaming off the edge and Linval Joseph collapsing the pocket, the Minnesota Vikings had one of the league's most ferocious defensive fronts a few years ago. That unit is now a significant concern. Griffen and Joseph are no longer with the team, and Hunter missed the entirety of the 2020 campaign with a neck injury. Yannick Ngakoue led the Vikings with five sacks last season even though they traded him to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 22. Hunter and defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who opted out last season after signing as a free agent, are expected back this fall. While their return will provide a significant boost, Michigan's Kwity Paye could help round out the unit. Don't let Paye's 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons fool you, because he consistently created pressure. The 6'4″, 272-pound defensive end has the first-step quickness to win around the edge, enough power to bull-rush bigger offensive tackles and relentlessness to run down plays. Hunter and Paye would be a good remix of Minnesota's previous successful formula." In February, the frontrunner for Minnesota in Round 1 was Gregory Rousseau from the University of Miami. So far in March, Paye has taken the torch. It is still early in mock-draft season, but Paye's emergence is a matter to monitor. Paye's Profile If the hype regarding Paye is legitimate, then the Vikings one would showcase a mean one-two punch of Danielle Hunter and Kwity Paye in 2021. Without Paye or a different first-round defensive end, the prognosis is Hunter and RDE-by-committee. That may work wonderfully or it may be ho-hum. We'll find out in September. For Paye's upside, TheGameHaus.com's Joe DiTullio's writes: "Paye has great size and will fit right in on an NFL defensive line. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds, Paye will fit both what teams are looking for from a height and weight perspective. Pair those things with his physical ability and teams won't have much to second-guess when selecting Paye. His strength is a great asset for him. At 272 pounds, he is bigger and stronger than a lot of defensive ends. He has great athleticism, which was on display frequently at Michigan. Paye has great burst at the snap of the ball and gets off the line quickly. He has good speed and agility, which makes him hard to handle. His athleticism helps him chase down ball carriers or create pressure on quarterbacks. Against the run, Paye shows great discipline. He has good gap integrity and funnels outside runs to the inside where defenders can make plays. Paye can shed blocks decently, but also shows good pursuit of the football. Once he gets to the ball-carrier, Paye is a solid tackler." Paye's selection would move the team closer to the Danielle Hunter-Everson Griffen combo platter it boasted for five seasons – one that was highly beneficial to the franchise. A Crowded DE Room Minnesota inked defensive end Stephen Weatherly to a one-year deal last week after his brief sabbatical to Carolina. If the Vikings do not select an EDGE rusher in the 1st Round of April's draft, Weatherly stands to receive ample playing time in 2021. And Weatherly isn't the only body seeking RDE1 employment. Ifeadi Odeigbo is the incumbent. D.J. Wonnum is hungry, too. Jalyn Holmes filled in during Hunter's 2020 absence as well. In terms of sheer volume, the Vikings probably have enough defensive ends. But the goal is to transcend average and [on paper] Paye provides that. Good and Bad of DE in Round 1 Choosing Paye with the 14th pick would indicate the offensive line is in good shape. It is not at the time of this article's release. The team needs one or two guards depending on the area of the offseason they prefer to address the matter – free agency or the draft. Should Spielman sign a guard or two that is reputable, well, a defensive end like Paye is even smarter in the 1st Round. But if no offensive lineman is found during free agency – fans will cringe. A pass-blocker of some sort would be next-to-mandatory with the 14th pick. Should Spielman find some guards next week, a 3-technique defensive tackle (there are tons available this offseason), and perhaps a journeyman cornerback – then the Vikings can indulge the true best-player-available mindset in April. This press release was produced by purplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.