NFL veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne signed a new contract with the Washington Commanders. Payne, a five-year NFL veteran, spent the entirety of his professional career with the Washington Commanders.
Sources: The #Commanders are locking in star DT Daron Payne on a 4-year deal for $90M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2023
Daron Payne, Washington Commanders, Agree to Contract
Daron Payne hits free agency following the best season of his young career. Starting and appearing in 17 games, the 25-year-old finished his fifth season in the league with 11.5 sacks, 64 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, 20 quarterback hits, one safety, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery. The sacks, tackles, tackles-for-loss, and quarterback hits were all career highs and he helped turn Washington into a legitimate playoff contender despite a subpar quarterback situation.
Payne originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Selected by the Washington Redskins (at the time), the Alabama product immediately played a big role on defense. Starting and appearing in 16 games, the nose tackle finished his rookie season with five sacks, 56 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, eight quarterback hits, three passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Payne impressed right out of the gate, and that impressive play continued into Year 2. While he wasn’t quite as good as his rookie year, the 22-year-old still finished the season with two sacks, 56 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and two passes defended while playing in 15 games.
Washington fired Jay Gruden midway through the 2019 season and replaced him with longtime Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera in 2020. Despite the scheme change, Payne remained his reliable self. During his first year with Rivera, the defensive tackle started all 16 games while recording three sacks, 54 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, one interception, four passes defended, and a career-high three fumbles. He proved this wasn’t a fluke in 2021 when he recorded 4.5 sacks, 61 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, and 15 quarterback hits.
Since signing his rookie contract, Daron Payne has played in 81 of a possible 72 regular season games. While on the field, the defensive tackle has recorded 26 tackles, 291 tackles, 40 tackles-for-loss, and 55 quarterback hits.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
