Aside from the quarterback position, the contract situation of defensive tackle Daron Payne is the most important issue for the Washington Commanders to address this upcoming offseason.
Payne is set to be an unrestricted free agent in March. That’s unless the Commanders can work out a new contract or decide to place the franchise tag on Payne.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew didn’t provide much detail on Payne’s situation during their exit press conference.
“We’re working through that process,” Mayhew said, per The Athletic’s Ben Standig. “He played outstanding football for us. It’d be difficult to move forward without him.”
Playing in the final year of his rookie contract, Daron Payne had the best season of his five-year career.
Payne registered career highs of 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five pass defenses. He led Washington in sacks.
Payne picked a perfect time to have his breakout. He was playing on an $8.5 million fifth-year option. Now, he faces free agency in an exploding defensive tackle market.
His college and pro teammate Jonathan Allen recently received a four-year, $72 million extension from the Commanders in 2021. Allen’s cap hit will grow from $9.5 million to $21.5 million next season which is today’s market value.
Teams are not eager to pay two defensive tackles $20 million each per year. Something has to give. Even placing a franchise tag on Payne could be troubling. The projected tag price for defensive tackles next season is $18.95 million.
Consider that the Commanders also need a quarterback, and the contracts of defensive end Montez Sweat and Chase Young, and others are due in the near future. Re-signing or tagging Payne may be a daunting task.
