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As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Monday, No. 5 was defensive end Montez Sweat.
We continue our countdown today with No. 4, defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Did you think one year ago we’d be here, on the eve of training camp, talking about Daron Payne’s impact on the Commanders for 2024? Almost no one did, as Washington wasn’t even exploring a potential contract extension in 2022.
How did Payne respond?
By playing in every game for the fourth time in his five NFL seasons and establishing new career highs in tackles [64], tackles for loss [18] and sacks [11.5]. That led to Payne earning his first Pro Bowl bid and the Commanders applying the franchise tag.
Instead of allowing Payne to play on the tag, Washington got a deal done just before free agency opened, signing Payne to a four-year, $90 million deal that was the second-largest ever at the time for a defensive tackle. The Commanders were ecstatic, Payne was even happier.
With Payne under a new deal, that means the Commanders have Jonathan Allen, Payne, Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway under contract for at least the next three seasons. That’s an impressive group.
At 26, there’s reason to believe Payne just scratched the surface last season. Washington believes that to be the case. Payne was downright unblockable at times last season, and the Commanders finally had the duo [Allen and Payne] they envisioned when picking them in the first round in back-to-back drafts.
Washington has high hopes for defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat in 2023. However, the Commanders know it all starts on the interior with Payne and Allen.
When Washington was its best last season, Payne was dominating the opposition. If Payne builds off of last season, the Commanders will be even better defensively in 2023.