The last topic Washington fans want to hear this time of the year is the franchise tag. The previous two times Washington applied the franchise tag, it didn’t end positively for the Commanders.
First, there was quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2016 and 2017. Cousins said all the right things about staying in Washington but was never re-signing. Instead of trading him, Washington foolishly allowed him to play on the tag for a second consecutive season and lost him for only a third-round compensatory selection.
It was a similar situation with guard Brandon Scherff in 2020 and 2021. Scherff, like Cousins, said all the right things. Yet, when Washington offered him a contract that would’ve paid him among the best guards in the game, he chose to remain on the tag and departed last March.
Now, Washington is looking squarely at applying the franchise tag again in 2023. This time, it would be on defensive tackle Daron Payne.
The NFL released the salary figures for each tag Monday, and it will cost the Commanders $18.9 million to franchise Payne this offseason.
With the 2023 salary cap set at $224.8 million per club, the nonexclusive franchise and transition tag numbers are now set as well. pic.twitter.com/QRcOpLXbQZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 30, 2023
Washington would prefer to strike a long-term deal with Payne and avoid the franchise tag for multiple reasons. However, that seems unlikely at this point.
It will be interesting to see what the Commanders’ plan is for Payne. While they would love to keep him, it makes more sense to shop him if he and the team can’t agree to a new contract.
