Kwity Paye has been the subject of trade rumors off and on over the past year, and if the Indianapolis Colts would consider moving him, the Detroit Lions could be a sneaky-good landing spot.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently pitched the Washington Commanders as a logical landing spot, suggesting a trade built around a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth in exchange for Paye and a 2026 seventh.
Considering the Lions‘ current need for edge help, though, we think Detroit makes just as much sense. The Lions have Aidan Hutchinson, one of the league’s best young edge rushers, but they’ve struggled to find a dependable counterpart. Marcus Davenport hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and Josh Paschal will open his 2025 campaign on the reserve/NFI list.
Behind them, the depth chart is filled with rotation players rather than every-down starters. Paye, a Michigan alum, would help keep Hutchinson from being constantly doubled and chipped, creating more favorable matchups across the front.
Paye Has Shown Steady Improvement Over His 4 Seasons
GettyShould the Detroit Lions try to trade for Kwity Paye?
Drafted 21st overall by the Colts in 2021, Paye came out of Michigan with the reputation of being a stout edge who could generate steady pressure. In four seasons with the Colts, he’s done just that. He recorded 4.0 sacks as a rookie, followed that up with 6.0 in his second year despite missing a handful of games and then turned in back-to-back seasons of 8.5 and 8.0 sacks in 2023 and 2024.
He also tied a career high in tackles-for-loss (10) and finished with a career-best 12 QB hits in 15 games last season.
The Colts made it clear that they value him by picking up his fifth-year option last spring, keeping him under contract through 2025 at just over $13 million. That’s a fair price to pay for a player who has shown growth every season and proved he can hold up against both the run and the pass.
But Indianapolis is also in a different spot than when they drafted him. With Laiatu Latu and JT Tuimoloau now in the fold, the Colts suddenly have more depth on the edge than they did a year ago. Could that make Paye more expendable?
Why the Detroit Lions May Want to Consider a Kwity Paye Trade
📺 FOX
The competition in NFC North alone should give the Lions a little more urgency when it comes to finding an edge to pair with Hutch. The Packers went out and traded for Micah Parsons, a move that reshaped the pass-rush landscape in the division overnight.
Detroit doesn’t need to swing quite that big, but adding Paye would be a move that strengthens their defensive line. Paye might not be the star Parsons is, but he doesn’t have to be. His ability to hold the edge, generate steady pressure and stay on the field would immediately make life easier for the rest of Detroit’s defense.
If there’s a sticking point, it’s cost. Recent trades for Montez Sweat and Brian Burns each commanded second-round picks, with new deals quickly following. Paye isn’t quite on Burns’ level as a pass rusher, but he’s younger than Sweat was at the time of his deal and he’s coming off two straight seasons with at least 8.0 sacks. That kind of consistency has value.
We think a third-round pick in 2026, with a conditional fifth-rounder attached, could be enough to get Indianapolis to move him. Whether the Lions would be interested remains to be seen, but if they don’t want to break the bank but still get legit edge help, Paye is a solid option.
Lions Trade Proposal Sends 1st-Round DE to Detroit to Counter Parsons