Minnesota will regret not drafting Paye
This is just a preseason game, but it’s also a time of year where people tend to overreact to what happens on the field. Just like social media went crazy over the debuts of Justin Fields and Trey Lance last week, there could be a similar trending opportunity for Colts’ first-round pick Kwity Paye.
Throughout the draft process, Paye was linked to the Vikings as a player that Zimmer would love to have on his defense. The top player on Bruce Feldman’s 2020 Freaks List, Paye displayed insane athleticism during his time at Michigan and could have been a perfect fit on Minnesota’s defensive line.
While Paye has drawn positive reviews in camp, the Vikings have fallen into desperation to improve on the edge. D.J. Wonnum and Stephen Weatherly both played in Saturday’s game against the Broncos, but neither did anything to signal they should win the job. When asked about the competition during Thursday’s presser, Zimmer wouldn’t say much.
“There’s so many aspects to that,” Zimmer said. “It’s playing the run. It’s rushing the passer. They’re similar guys in some of the things they can do. They both may be out there sometimes. It’s a combination of things, really.”
If Wonnum and Weatherly can’t step up, it could create some serious envy over the opposite sideline. With the way the Vikings offensive line has looked, it’s possible Paye could have a strong performance.