Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne has drawn interest from other teams ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. However, the Commanders do not want to trade Payne, according to the Score’s Jordan Schultz.
A 2018 first-round pick out of Alabama, Payne is playing this season on an $8.529 million fifth-year option. He is set to be a free agent next offseason.
Payne’s future in Washington has been in doubt after initial reports during the offseason suggested a long-term deal is unlikely. But when asked last week, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera expressed his hope that Payne would remain in Washington.
“I’d like to think so,” Rivera said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “I’d like to hope so. I think the young man is a solid stout football player. He seems to really have grasped onto things and playing alongside Jonathan [Allen], the two of them are a really good tandem.”
Still, it’s hard to imagine re-signing Payne being feasible at the market rate for top-level defensive tackles. The Commanders already extended fellow former Alabama defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who has three years left on his four-year, $72 million deal.
Washington also gave wide receiver Terry McLaurin a three-year extension worth just over $68.3 million.
The Commanders are in a peculiar situation. The team is on a three-game win streak, evening their record at 4-4. Still, Washington is in last place in the NFC East, but in the thick of the race for a wild card playoff spot. Selling off assets may be premature, but long-term the team still has areas of improvement.
Payne is playing well with 4.5 sacks through eight games, matching his total from last season.
Payne (and Allen) are part of a loaded defensive line group that features four first-round picks. The Commanders are projected to be up against the salary cap for the 2023 season. Washington also has to look ahead to potentially extending defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young in the near future.
Placing a franchise tag on Payne is an option for next season. However, even that would force a lot of roster maneuvering to fit in the salary cap. For now, the Commanders are focused on this season.
