4 reasons Kwity Paye is in play for Steelers at pick 24 in NFL Draft
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers still have a need at the position
As I mentioned before, I think that Alex Highsmith was an excellent third-round pick from last April, and I think he has enough tools to earn a chance as the guy opposite of T.J. Watt. However, there’s no guarantee that the former Charlotte standout will build on the momentum we saw during his rookie season, and that he will live up to the lofty expectations fans have already placed on him.
Even if he does, every team certainly needs more than two quality edge players, and without Dupree, there is next to no depth on the team. Pittsburgh may retain restricted free agent, Ola Adeniyi and possibly even Cassius Marsh (Who is an unrestricted free agent). However, they don’t provide nearly enough as pass rushers to play them more than a minimal number of defensive snaps.
Drafting Paye could give the Steelers the ability to pair T.J. Watt with a physically imposing, athletic pass rusher on the other side and allow Alex Highsmith to move back to the situational edge rusher role who can spell Watt and Paye of snaps. With Dupree soon to depart, Paye could make it so they don’t skip a beat on defense.
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It still seems like a bit of a stretch that the Steelers will go defense in the first round – even considering the fact that they have invested their last eight first-round picks on that side of the ball. However, Kwity Paye checks all of the boxes Pittsburgh looks for at the position, and I would have to think that he would at least be considered if he happened to fall to pick 24.