The Washington Commanders appear set to move on from one of their talented former first-round defensive linemen. According to The Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Commanders are not expected to offer defensive tackle Daron Payne a contract extension.
The Commanders are not expected to offer Payne a contract extension, multiple sources tell The Athletic, meaning the 2018 first-round pick and four-year starter would potentially play out the final year of his rookie contract and enter free agency in 2023.
The report is a bit of a twist, as it appeared Washington was prepared to keep Payne. Their actions this offseason also hinted towards a long-term deal coming Payne’s way.
Washington allowed defensive tackle Tim Settle to move on for a larger role in free agency with the Buffalo Bills. Then the team released defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis as a cap casualty.
Daron Payne is set to play this upcoming season on his fifth-year option for just over $8.5 million, the final year of his rookie deal. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2022 season without a new deal or franchise tag.
Still, the move not to offer Payne a new deal isn’t all that surprising. Last July, Washington signed fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a four-year, $72 million contract extension. Allen’s new contract kicks in 2022.
Then there was the huge blowup between Allen and Payne during a Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys. Both Allen and Payne were teammates at Alabama in college and drafted one-year apart in the first round by Washington.
Payne downplayed the scuffle with his “brother.” However, it was not hard to see Payne is destined to be the odd man out.
Washington also has two first-round picks at defensive end in Chase Young and Montez Sweat. The Commanders will have a decision soon on picking up Sweat’s fifth-year option for the 2023 season. Then he too will be in the same situation as Payne.
Meanwhile, Young, the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year, will have his fifth-year option coming up in 2024. It’s the downside of selecting four defensive linemen in consecutive years. Now, the Commanders have to decide who they can afford to keep with the salary cap. It appears from Standig’s report Payne is set to be out.
