Perhaps the San Francisco 49ers will be considered wise for not having put themselves way too deep in the mix for big-name pass-rushing defensive ends like the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby or the Cincinnati Bengals' Trey Hendrickson.
Although, sure, seeing either player in red and gold would have been a dream.
Regardless, the Niners have publicly admitted they need pass-rush help this offseason, even if they're banking on healthy 2026 versions of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams.
And while there are plenty of low-budget options out there, one potential free-agent solution might be the ideal low-risk target for general manager John Lynch and Co.
Kwity Paye might be 49ers' best low-risk, high-reward pass-rushing free-agent target
The Indianapolis Colts selected Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye with the 21st overall pick back in 2021. And while Paye performed well enough to convince Indy to use a fifth-year option on him, the former Wolverine never quite lived up to the expectation of being a game-changing pass-rusher.
With 30.5 sacks over a five-year tenure, including just four over 17 games last season, it's not too shocking why all sings point to Indianapolis moving on from him.
Yet there's a link to suggest San Francisco would be a solid fit.
In 2023 and 2024, when Paye posted career-best sack totals of 8.5 and eight sacks, respectively, he was doing so under the tutelage of then-defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who just so happened to assist with the 49ers defense last season under now-Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
While Saleh has since been replaced by new coordinator Raheem Morris, taking Bradley with him, there's no doubt Morris will adopt many of the Niners' previous defensive alignments.
It makes sense to think Paye would enjoy a more productive tenure in San Francisco, given the context.
Plus, according to Spotrac's market-value tool, the 27 year old is expected to receive a contract worth approximately $17 million per year, which is far more reasonable than what Hendrickson would command on the open market. And San Francisco would be staying younger, too, hoping for good-enough production on the cheap instead of expected-elite production at an exorbitant cost.
There doesn't appear to be a lot of interest in Paye's services either, meaning the 49ers wouldn't have to worry about the Crosby- or Hendrickson-like bidding war.
Sounds like a smart, low-risk move, right? It is.