Raiders Sign DE Kwity Paye in Free Agency

Former Colts first-round pick joins Las Vegas to bolster defensive line.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to terms with defensive end Kwity Paye, a former first-round pick from the Indianapolis Colts. Paye will help fill a major hole on the Raiders' defensive line created by the recent trade of star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

Why it matters

The Raiders are looking to improve their defense after a disappointing 2025 season, and the addition of Paye, a talented young edge rusher, is a significant move to shore up their pass rush.

The details

Paye was the Colts' first-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Michigan. In his first three NFL seasons, he has recorded 16.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits. The Raiders are hoping Paye can step in and provide a similar level of production to what they lost when they traded away Crosby.

  • The Raiders agreed to terms with Paye on March 9, 2026, the first day of the NFL's free agency period.

The players

Kwity Paye

A defensive end who was a first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and has recorded 16.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits in his first three NFL seasons.

Maxx Crosby

A star pass rusher for the Raiders who was recently traded away, creating a hole on the defensive line that the team is looking to fill with the addition of Paye.

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The takeaway

The Raiders are making a concerted effort to improve their defense in free agency, and the signing of Kwity Paye is a key move to bolster their pass rush and replace the production they lost with the trade of Maxx Crosby.