Tag: Commanders 2023 Free Agents

What are the Commanders’ options with Daron Payne?

Which of these decisions will the Commanders make regarding Payne?

The Washington Commanders have a big-time decision to make regarding their big-time defensive tackle Daron Payne.

Payne, drafted by Washington with the 13th overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft has made it clear he wants to get paid what he feels he is due.

Playing in 81 career games in his five seasons, Payne has rushed the passer well from the inside, collecting 26 sacks. This past 2022 season, the former Alabama Crimson Tide tackle had a huge increase in two defensive statistics. Payne collected 18 tackles for a loss, when his previous high had been 7 in 2020. He also accomplished 20 QB hits when he had best collected 15 the previous season.

So, Payne is ready to be paid. It is not a simplistic yes or no for the Commanders. For now, it seems the Commanders have four options. 1) Sign Payne to a long-term deal such as they did with fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, 2) Franchise tag Payne, keeping him for another season, 3) Franchise tag Payne and trade him, 4) Permit Payne to walk via unrestricted free agency.

If the fourth option is taken, the best return the Commanders would likely receive in compensation is a third-round draft choice at the end of the third round in the 2024 draft.

The third option is one where the Commanders could actually receive the most compensation in return. But then again, head coach Ron Rivera is not guaranteed a 2024 season. Thus, the temptation for Rivera might be to make a decision that is best for the team this 2023 season, not necessarily what is best for 2024 and beyond.

The first option is the most unlikely, simply because the Commanders are not going to be able to sign Allen, Payne, Montez Sweat and Chase Young all to long-term deals.

The Commanders need to capitalize on Payne’s value. With the season he had in 2022, his value may never be higher in the NFL. Which reminds many of us of Kirk Cousins’ value and the offer Bruce Allen had for Cousins from the 49ers. Allen was stubborn, dug in, and absolutely blew it as a personnel executive.

Cousins walked, and Washington has not had a winning season since Cousins was behind center in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

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Yet again, Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew must make huge decision at QB

Mayhew and Rivera have some huge decisions to make — and soon. Perhaps the big decision isn’t all that difficult after all.

Leadership means making tough decisions.

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew are well aware that if next season does not bring an improvement in the win total, they will be finished with the Commanders.

Last offseason, Commanders Wire wrote prior to the Carson Wentz trade about our concern that Rivera and Mayhew had presented an appearance of desperation and being needy. Sure enough, our concerns were confirmed when the Commanders acquired Wentz. They gave up a third-round draft choice, a conditional second/third-round choice, swapped picks in the second round (five places), and agreed to take on all of Wentz’s $28 million salary for 2022.

This is what we wrote last offseason to close that post:

Sometimes in negotiations, we really must be careful because if our posture is one of being too needy, the negotiation will actually be nothing more than the other guy taking advantage of us. A fair mediation will involve you being willing to walk away from the table. I am hoping, if need be, Coach Ron and Mayhew are both willing to walk away from the table.

A year later, here we are again. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is going to be available via trade. We’ve seen the best Taylor Heinicke can give, and we have no idea how Sam Howell will develop over the next three seasons.

However, Carr has a $34,875,000 cap hit in 2023, $43,875,000 in 2024 and $43,175,000 in 2025. Rivera and Mayhew need to win next season. Consequently, they might not want to wait to see if Howell develops.

There are also pending free agents to consider, such as Daron Payne, Taylor Heinicke, Cole Holcomb, Cam Sims, Jeremy Reaves, Jonathan Williams, Khaleke Hudson, Milo Eifler, Tyler Larsen and Wes Schweitzer.

Oh, and what about 2024 free agents such as Montez Sweat, Kamren Curl, James Smith-Williams, Antonio Gibson, Chase Young, Kendall Fuller and Curtis Samuel?

The Commanders should go with Howell on his rookie contract, build through the draft, sign their proven players who can help them in the next three to four years, and sign a low-cost, veteran quarterback.

The best leaders do what is best for the organization in the short term and the long term, and this offseason will go a long way toward showing a potential new Commanders owner what kind of leaders Rivera and Mayhew are.

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