Dayo

Odeyingbo

Odeyingbo had four sacks this past season, but 12 in 2023 when he took the jump to reliable pass rusher. Still entering his age-26 season, the Bears are likely forecasting some improvement here. He’ll step in across from Montez Sweat to give the Bears a pair of capable pass rushers at end. Odeyingbo had only started five games in his first three years with the Colts.

“The goal is to be back playing this year,” Odeyingbo said at this weekend’s rookie minicamp. “That’s what I’m working towards. I’m working hard to get back as fast as possible.” Odeyingbo tore his Achilles training for the Senior Bowl in January. He’s targeting an October return, but the Colts are likely to move him slowly. Odeyingbo is a candidate to open the season on the reserve/PUP list, sidelining him for at least the first six games.

Second-round DE Dayo Odeyingbo, fifth-round S Shawn Davis, seventh-round WR Mike Strachan and seventh-round OG Will Fries have also signed their rookie pacts. As is the case with all first-rounders, Paye’s deal includes a fifth-year team option for 2025. If exercised, fifth-year options are now fully guaranteed. Paye (6'4/272) is a former high school running back who was a member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freak-List.” Paye has a thick frame that channels tremendous power into his bull rush. Vicious hands and natural athleticism help him shoot gaps on run plays. He’s difficult to dislodge once his base is established and will chase down plays from behind. He put on a show at his pro day workout, running a 4.52 40-yard dash, posting a 35 ½” vertical, 33” arms and a Herculean 36 bench reps.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Odeyingbo, who injured his Achilles in preparation for the Senior Bowl, will be ready in September or October. Odeyingbo joins his older brother, Bengals IDL Dare, as Vanderbilt defensive linemen to make the jump to the NFL. The four-star prospect accrued 126 tackles, 12 sacks, 85 pressures, and 71 stops over his four year career. He was named second team All-SEC in 2020 and departs as the fifth leading player in Vandy history with 31 tackles for loss. He’s capable of challenging on the outside with a varied toolbox of pass rushing moves, or bulldozing his way through the B-gap. He fits the basketball-player-still-transitioning-to-the-gridiron mold and suffers from the usual array of developmental obstacles to climb. The Colts hope Odeyingbo can improve their pass rush, which was graded by PFF as the 13th worst in the NFL last season.