The Washington Commanders selected Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne No. 13 overall in the 2018 NFL draft. This was one year after Washington selected Payne’s former teammate and fellow defensive tackle, Jonathan Allen, in the first round.
Allen quickly emerged as a standout, finally making the Pro Bowl in 2021 after signing a four-year extension in July 2021 to remain in Washington.
Now, it’s Payne’s turn.
And Payne couldn’t have chosen a better time to become a free agent. He established career highs in tackles, sacks [11.5] and tackles for loss [18.] He was third in the NFL in TFLs, two ahead of Allen, who missed the final game.
Last offseason, instead of working on an extension with Payne, rumors swirled that the Commanders would not offer him an extension. With Allen signed and defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young coming up in the following years, Washington wouldn’t be able to pay everyone. And while Payne was good throughout his first four seasons, he hadn’t necessarily shown he was worth $20 million or more per season.
That’s changed with Payne’s breakout season, and head coach Ron Rivera has made it clear at every turn how much Washington wants Payne back. General manager Martin Mayhew echoed those sentiments Tuesday.
“It’d be difficult to move forward without him, obviously,” Mayhew said. “We have a plan, and we definitely wanna get him back.”
Payne was in the Washington locker room Monday for locker cleanout day, and reporters were able to speak with him, albeit briefly. Payne was dressed in green.
Payne was asked if he was emotional, knowing it was the end of his contract and it could be his last time in the Washington locker room.
“I really don’t have any emotions right now; I’m trying to clean out my locker and get home,” Payne said.
What does Payne want this offseason?
“You know what I want, man; it’s self-explanatory,” Payne said with a smile. “Oh yeah,” responded when a reporter asked Payne if he knew he’d be getting paid.
Does it matter where Payne plays?
“I just want what I earned,” he said.
Payne has never said definitively he wants to return. Those close to him believe he wants to return, but as of now, he’s in full business mode.
In an appearance on the “Sports Junkies” on 106.7 The Fan this week, his longtime teammate and friend, Jonathan Allen, discussed Payne’s impending free agency.
“He would like to come back,” Allen said. “I told him, ‘I would love for you to come back, bro, but you gotta do what’s best for your family.'” Allen stressed that playing in Washington is what he wanted because it’s his hometown, but everyone is different, and at the end of the day, they must make decisions based on what is best for them and their family.
Does he think Payne will come back?
“I would bet that he would come back,” Allen responded when pressed. Let’s make it clear, Allen is not necessarily making that prediction, but just a hunch. And Allen said his response was more because he was hopeful.
Ultimately, Washington holds the cards this offseason, as the franchise tag can be applied to Payne next month. So if the Commanders want to re-sign Payne, they should probably get to work soon. Washington fans know how the franchise tag works, and it rarely ever benefits the Commanders.
