A quick glance at the stat sheet would tell anyone that Kwity Paye dominated in his first game with the Las Vegas Raiders. And it's a good thing he did, as John Spytek and the front office gave him $25.7 million guaranteed this past March, with a chance to earn up to $48 million over the next three years.
That kind of money shouldn't (and isn't) handed out to just anyone, so the expectation was that Paye would have a sizeable impact on this Raiders defense. After Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, the plan for him is already coming to fruition, as Paye is adding previously abandoned elements to this unit.
Between his viability as a true complement to Maxx Crosby and his versatility unlocking another level for Rob Leonard's defense, Paye has been worth the money thus far. If he continues on this trajectory, Las Vegas' defense can shut down more than just the Miami Dolphins, as they did on Sunday.
Kwity Paye is the Maxx Crosby pass rush partner Raiders have badly needed
It took Paye a while to get going in training camp, and he didn't bring his best stuff in the preseason. But against Miami, Paye wreaked havoc, as he recorded 2.0 sacks, five quarterback hits, eight total pressures, six tackles and five stops. He accomplished all of that in just 32 defensive snaps.
Paye was involved in three sacks, as he had one solo and split two others, including one that should have been a safety, but I digress. And while his 9.5% pass-rush win rate wasn't elite, and Paye benefited from a coverage sack or two, he still provided constant pressure and got the job done.
Crosby is obviously a superstar and a one-man wrecking crew, but he and the team have longed for a legitimate running mate opposite him. Yannick Ngakoue and Chandler Jones had their moments, and Malcolm Koonce flashed a few years ago, but this problem has never actually been shored up.
The last time a Raiders defender not named Crosby notched eight or more pressures in a game was back in Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season, when Koonce recorded nine against the Kansas City Chiefs. It took Paye one week to do something that hasn't been done in almost three years.
"I got more one-on-ones today, for sure. The slide was away from me," Paye said of playing with Crosby.
If he can keep making offensive lines pay for not giving him as much attention, then it'll give opponents headaches. Teams have been able to completely key on Crosby in the past, but Paye has a chance to free up the team's all-world defensive end more and really turn this thing up in Las Vegas.
Not to mention, the Dolphins, for all of their issues, don't have the worst duo of offensive tackles. Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson are somewhere around league average, so it's not as if Paye was just punching down on an inferior opponent and racking up the stats. He did some great work.
But his impact is not just limited to the stat sheet or how he helps out Crosby.
Kwity Paye's versatility is a cheat code for Raiders DC Rob Leonard
Fans became privy to the Raiders' plans to make Paye a versatile piece on the defensive line back in training camp. Looking at his alignment splits from Week 1 and seeing how he was utilized on film, it's clear that Leonard was able to turn Paye's versatility into a bit of a cheat code for the defense.
Position | Snaps |
|---|---|
LE | 4 |
LEO | 5 |
LOLB | 3 |
RE | 8 |
REO | 12 |
Obviously, Paye can line up on both sides of the line and give the opposing team's offensive linemen different looks. But his ability to line up inside, over and outside the tackles is critical for Leonard, as he can disguise the defense's intentions or put more of what the unit needs on the field.
On some obvious throwing downs, Paye slid more inside, and the Raiders lined up Malcolm Koonce on the edge outside of him. When it seemed like the Dolphins were running, Las Vegas could put Paye on the edge and add another defensive tackle inside to bolster the run-stuffing capabilities.
Paye's size and ability to play on the interior allowed him to come off several stunts and get after the quarterback. While he had sacks from different techniques, all of them came on interior rushes, which is quite a twist to throw at opposing offenses, especially considering he can win on the edge as well.
"I think it's rewarding, kind of proving the front office right for them wanting to come and get me," Paye said after the game. "So, just trust to those guys who wanted me, and then I just have to prove them right."
Just keep doing what you're doing, Kwity, and you will.
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