Colts' Samson Ebukam, Kwity Paye Quietly Becoming Great Pass Rush Duo

Don't look now, but the Indianapolis Colts have an ascending pass rush duo in Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye.

Coming into the 2023 season, the Indianapolis Colts faced a lot of question marks surrounding their pass rush.

The Colts knew what they were getting with defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. One is a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler who does everything at a high level. The other is a force against the run and playing the best football of his career.

But the unknowns were at edge rusher. Yannick Ngakoue, the Colts leader in sacks in 2022, was not retained. When taking out Buckner, Stewart, and Ngakoue, only 12 sacks came from edge rushers who would be on the team in 2023. Could the Colts generate enough pressure on the edge?

After 13 weeks of the 2023 season, the answer is a resounding yes. The reason? Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye are quietly becoming one of the best pass rushing duos in the NFL.

Ebukam's Chance to Shine

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Ebukam came to the Colts in the spring as a free agent, signing a three-year, $24 million deal with $10.75 million guaranteed. While it was no secret money was a driving factor for Ebukam to sign in Indy, getting a chance to be a full-time starter was also enticing. He came from a crowded defensive line group with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played a rotational role.

Ebukam would also be the main guy at the LEO position in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's defense. Ebukam would play in a wide-nine technique, split outside the tackle's outside shoulder, allowing him to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.

“It just makes it easier mentally for the defensive end that’s playing that technique because you just get to get off the rock and just mess things up for the offensive lineman," Ebukam elaborated. "Like, you’re not really thinking about much so you get to play faster. I like it because I just get to go."

While the sack numbers were pedestrian – averaging a smidge under four per season – Ebukam had shown an ability to force pressure even if he was not getting to the quarterback. The Colts had 44 sacks in 2022 but saw too many plays where the quarterback had all day to throw. They needed to force pressure even if they were not bringing the quarterback down for a sack.

When the 2023 season began, Ebukam immediately showed the potential the Colts saw in him. He tallied four sacks in the first six games with 18 pressures. It looked like the Colts had struck gold with their new pass rusher.

However, Ebukam saw a midseason lull, failing to record a sack in four consecutive games. He only managed to record six pressures as well. As the bye week hit for the Colts, there were questions on whether he was just a rotational guy after all.

But the seven-year veteran never flinched, nor did his confidence waiver. He knew he was doing everything right. It was only a matter of time before the production would follow.

As the Colts have returned from their bye, Ebukam has been on a tear. He has racked up four sacks, two forced fumbles, and 10 pressures in the last two games. Ebukam has been almost unblockable and is now the No.12 ranked edge rusher in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ebukam is on pace for a career season. His eight sacks are almost double his previous career-high. He has tied his career-high with three forced fumbles and will likely set career-highs in tackles and pressures.

The free agent signing of Ebukam did not get much attention when it happened last spring. However, it may be Chris Ballard's best signing of 2023.

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Paye's Year 3 Jump

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On the other side of the Colts' defensive line, Paye was entering a crucial third season in 2023. A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Paye had not quite produced to the level of his draft selection. Sure, he had proven to be a quality starter, but nothing more.

Paye had just 10 sacks, a forced fumble, and 73 total pressures through his first two seasons. Injuries played a role in the lack of production, missing seven games over his first two seasons. It seemed Paye would get into a rhythm and build momentum, only to be hampered by a nagging injury, causing him to stall.

"The one thing that just bit me in the butt last year was just injuries," Paye admitted in April. "Last year was just a freak accident trying to turn and somebody stepped on my ankle. For me this year, just trying to make sure I stay healthy for the whole year – just finish out the season because it sucks when you are just on the sideline just watching your guys go to battle every single day and then you can’t do anything.”

2023 was also a big year for Paye in terms of his contract. The Colts must decide if they will pick up his fifth-year option after the season, afforded to those who were first-round picks. Heading into the year, that was no guarantee.

Paye started the season with a bang, just like Ebukam. He racked up three sacks in the first three weeks with nine pressures. Paye was getting after the quarterback at a high level.

But the injury bug struck Paye in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. Paye left with a concussion and had to miss the next game against the Tennessee Titans. His momentum came to a halt again.

When Paye returned, three weeks passed before he would sniff the quarterback again. To his credit, Paye was consistently making stops in the run game, proving effective in other areas. However, the goal was to get after the quarterback.

The Colts coaches saw how hard Paye had been working and had full confidence production would come.

“He’s a guy that there is a lot of trust in him," Bradley elaborated on Paye. "I think with him, the way he plays – his ability, his toughness, his effort, all of those things are intact. He’s doing a good job getting some pressure. I know he would like to see more and I think they’ll come. That’s one of those things, the way he’s working, the way he goes about it – it’s one of those things that just keep doing what you’re doing and the opportunities will come.”

The opportunities have come, and Paye has taken advantage. The pass rusher has 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 10 pressures during the Colts' four-game winning streak. Opposing offensive tackles are having just as much trouble blocking Paye as they are his teammate on the other side.

Paye is amid a career year as well. He has career highs in sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (two) and is approaching a career-high in tackles. The production Paye is putting together is what the Colts expected when they selected him in the first round just a few years ago.

A Dynamic Duo

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While Ebukam and Paye may not get much of the national spotlight, they are quickly becoming one of the better pass rush duos in the NFL. Below are their current season stats:

• Ebukam: 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 13 QB hits, three forced fumbles, 34 pressures
• Paye: 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, seven QB hits, two forced fumbles, 23 pressures

Ebukam (t-16th) and Paye (t-20th) rank in the top 20 in the league in sacks. No other team has two players in the top 20. The pair of pass rushers are also on pace to record double-digit sacks. The last time the Colts had a pair of players with double-digit sacks was in 2010 when franchise greats Robert Mathis (11.0) and Dwight Freeney (10.0) accomplished the feat.

They also help against the run as both rank in the top 10 in stops on the Colts, according to PFF. Ebukam has registered 19 stops, while Paye has 13 stops. No matter the situation, the duo can be a threat to blow up the play.

The Colts as a team have 42 sacks in 2023, just four shy from the Indianapolis team record of 46 set back in 2005. That record could be broken this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals and would go a long way toward securing their fifth-straight victory.

The tandem has not received much praise nationally as of yet. But Ebukam and Paye are quickly putting the league on notice that the next great pass rushing duo in Indy has finally arrived. 

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