Former Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne was selected No. 13 overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders franchise.
In 2022, Payne made the Pro Bowl for the first time. As the 2023 offseason gets underway, Payne will likely test free agency where one team may stand above the rest in its pursuit of a star defensive tackle like Payne.
Pro Football Focus recently claimed the Seattle Seahawks would be a strong fit for Payne and that bringing him in through free agency would improve the team’s defense.
“Seattle showed various different alignments with their defensive front in 2022, not as beholden to head coach Pete Carroll’s typical 4-3 base as in years past, but Payne has also played in a 3-4 and 4-3 and can line up as a zero-technique all the way out to a three-technique depending on the front. Payne earned back-to-back 70.0-plus pass-rush grades over the last two seasons while his early career run defense prowess suffered, but he’s shown he can win in many different ways depending on what he’s asked to do, with 96 quarterback pressures and 16 sacks over the last two seasons.”
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow former Alabama players in the NFL as the playoffs continue and the offseason begins.
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