The Washington Commanders landed a gem when they selected Daron Payne in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Commanders have to figure out a way to give him a new contract or possibly franchise tag him. Will Payne remain in Washington in 2023?
Daron Payne Had a Stellar 2022 Season
If you want to see what progression looks like, look no further than Payne. You can see the steady improvement in his game. Now in his fifth professional season, Payne is trending toward his first All-Pro season.
Payne is near the top of the league in sacks, quarterback pressures, and tackles for loss. He’s effective as both a pass rusher and a run stuffer. He’s a difference-making defensive tackle and not someone the Commanders want to lose.
Of course, football isn’t as simple as just re-signing your best players. In a vacuum, the Commanders would just pay Payne what he’s worth, and that would be that. Unfortunately, the salary cap presents an always difficult challenge.
Can the Commanders Afford a New Contract for Daron Payne?
As a former first-round pick, Payne got a nice deal out of college. His four-year, $14.4 million dollar contract was a bargain for a while. It was also backloaded, as Payne’s largest cap hit came this past season at $8.5 million.
The good news is the Commanders actually have the eighth-most salary cap space available. The bad news is it’s still just $6.7 million.
The biggest drain on the Commanders’ cap right now is quarterback Carson Wentz. While he’s signed through 2025, they can release him after this season with a $0 dead cap hit. That seems quite probable at this point, given Wentz lost his job to the man he was brought in to supposedly be an upgrade on, Taylor Heinicke.
Depending on what the Commanders do at quarterback, they could go from a $28.2 million expenditure on Wentz to only a few million. That would create space to potentially extend Payne.
What Might the Defensive Tackle Market Look Like?
The easiest place to start is on this very team. The Commanders just signed DT Jonathan Allen to a four-year, $72 million contract prior to the 2022 season. That is undoubtedly Payne’s floor. Given natural inflation and the rise in the salary cap, Payne will cost at least a little bit more.
MORE: Best Defensive Tackles in the NFL 2022
Elite defensive tackles are not cheap. Payne is firmly in his prime, entering his age-26 season. Some solid comparisons are DeForest Buckner, who got four years, $84 million from the Colts at age 25, and Chris Jones, who got four years, $80 million from the Chiefs at age 26.
Where Could Daron Payne Land in 2023?
Head coach Ron Rivera was asked about Payne’s future in Washington. He said in no uncertain terms he wants the team to bring him back. Of course, that’s easier said than done. I’m sure Payne would love to be back in Washington, but if he gets a significantly higher offer from another team, it will be hard to turn that down.
If Payne does go elsewhere, it’s difficult to predict where that might be. You can never have too many elite defensive tackles. So, it’s not as simple as looking at teams with a need. Nearly every team in the league could use a guy like Payne. If he does hit free agency, I expect over half the league to be in on him to various extents.
With that said, I do expect the Commanders to work out an extension with Payne prior to 2023 free agency. This team is on the come-up and will do what is necessary to preserve their stellar tackle duo of Allen and Payne.
