Tag: Daron Payne resigns for 4 years

Commanders attempting to re-sign QB Taylor Heinicke

The Commanders want to keep Heinicke around.

So, after day one of the 2023 free agent cycle, what can be said regarding the Commanders’ efforts and or strategy?

How about the most important position of quarterback? Reporter John Keim firmly believes the Commanders are attempting to retain quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Keim tweeted that he knows the Commanders are trying to re-sign Heinicke.

Monday saw the Dolphins offer the Jets’ Mike White $16 million for two years to be the backup quarterback. No doubt, Heinicke’s agent is well aware and expressing how Heinicke, in the last two years, has been involved in more clutch plays and wins than White.

Quickly recapping the actual transactions of the first day. New Commanders for 2023 are going to be guard Nick Gates (Giants) and RT Andrew Wylie (Chiefs). The Commanders also signed Seattle linebacker Cody Barton and claimed Vikings CB Cameron Dantzler off of waivers.

Now Commanders fans might fall into the temptation to complain about the fact that the new players are not star material. However, what might be missed is that the Commanders made it a priority to resign Daron Payne. And that is big news. Payne and Jonathan Allen form the strongest starting position on the team, and they are both locked up for a few more years.

They also extended two defensive players who played well in the season finale against Dallas in Khaleke Hudson and CB Danny Johnson.

 

 

Commanders Daron Payne becomes 2nd-highest paid NFL DT

What does Daron Payne’s deal mean for Washington’s defensive ends?

Four years and $90 million for Daron Payne.

The Commanders made a big decision Sunday in finalizing the deal for the defensive tackle from Alabama, drafted 13th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

This means the Commanders have chosen to go with both Payne and Jonathan Allen from the inside. Yet, there are two sides to each coin. Thus, it also means the Commanders will most likely not be re-signing both Montez Sweat and Chase Young, who play on the outside.

This contract means Payne will be averaging $22.5 million per year. The Commanders have determined to average over $80 Million in their starting defensive tackles. They won’t be able to do this with Sweat and Young.

If these reported terms ($90 million over four years with $60 million guaranteed) are indeed correct, Payne vaults up the ladder of the higher-paid NFL defensive tackles, second only to the LA Rams’ Aaron Donald. Donald’s contract average per year salary is $31,666,667.

Payne, being franchise-tagged last week, was scheduled to make $18,937,000 for the 2023 season. This contract means his average salary pushes him ahead of the Chiefs’ Chris Jones ($20,000,000), the Colts’ DeForest Buckner ($21,000,000), and the Giants’ Leonard Williams ($21,000,000).

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]