The Indianapolis Colts officially report to Westfield for the start of training camp in just over a week’s time where the defensive ends look to form a group that vaults the defense into a new tier.
The defense will be brought along by new coordinator Gus Bradley, who replaces Matt Eberflus. Bradley’s aggressive scheme will feature assignments from edge rushers that focus solely on getting upfield and impacting the quarterback.
The Colts made a big addition to the room this offseason via trade when they added Yannick Ngakoue while they hope a pair of their second-year players will take a jump.
For positional purposes, we are going to include Dayo Odeyingbo with the interior defensive line players even though he could see an equal amount of time on the edge as well.
Be sure to check out the other position previews ahead of training camp:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight End
Offensive Tackle
Interior Offensive Line
With training camp’s report date set for July 26, here’s our preview of the edge rushers:
Yannick Ngakoue
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
For years, Ngakoue terrorized the Colts’ backfield. Now, he’s wearing the horseshoe. The 27-year-old defensive end was acquired by the Colts this offseason in a trade that sent cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Ngakoue has experience in two separate seasons working under Gus Bradley. He will be deployed as the LEO, which is a position meant for players who can get upfield quickly while using their athleticism to run the arc.
Ngakoue hasn’t recorded fewer than 8.0 sacks in a season since entering the league in 2016. That, combined with the hope of a Year 2 jump from this next player, brings a lot of optimism toward the pass rush.
Kwity Paye
AP Photo/Darryl Webb
Everyone’s favorite breakout candidate. Paye enters Year 2 after a promising showing during his rookie campaign in 2021. The former first-round pick is likely working as the Big End but should also see plenty of snaps from the wide-9 alignment.
Though Paye only recorded 4.0 sacks during his rookie season, there are plenty of analysts who believe a double-digit campaign could take place this season. That may be a more optimistic view, but it’s certainly in his range of outcomes.
The Colts drafted Paye to eventually be a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball, and he knows it’s time to go entering Year…
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