The Washington Commanders and defensive tackle Daron Payne agreed to terms on a new contract Sunday afternoon, meaning the star defender will not play the 2023 season on the franchise tag.
Initially, many couldn’t believe the terms of Payne’s new deal. It’s a four-year contract worth $90 million with $60 million guaranteed. But the Commanders, who want to make some moves in free agency, wanted to get a deal done before the new league year opens this week.
As for those terms, the devil is always in the details.
Let’s look at the terms of Payne’s new deal.
4 years, $90 million
- $28 million signing bonus
- $60.02 million in full guarantees
- $46.01 million due signing
- $500K workout bonus each year of the contract
- $5 million roster bonus in 2026 if on the roster the third day of the league year
2023:
- Salary: $2.51 million guaranteed
- Cap hit: $10.01 million
2024:
- Salary: $15 million guaranteed
- Cap hit: $23.01 million
2025:
- Salary: $19.56 million
- Cap hit: $27.57 million
2026:
- Salary: $16.4 million
- Cap hit: $29.41 million
Credit Washington for getting ahead of the defensive tackle market in this deal for Payne. Instead of waiting for Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams, or others, Washington set the market, and the others will surpass it in the coming months.