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One of the big questions surrounding the Washington Commanders this offseason centered on the future of defensive tackle Daron Payne. The 28-year-old former first-round pick will enter his ninth NFL season in 2026, which also happens to be the final year of his contract.
Payne is set to count $28 million against Washington's salary cap in 2026, which is the highest number on the team. The Commanders could save over $16 million if they moved on from Payne this offseason, giving them even more financial flexibility in free agency. Moving on from Payne would make sense, considering he hasn't necessarily lived up to the four-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2023.
Washington general manager Adam Peters put those rumors to rest on Tuesday, confirming Payne will remain with the Commanders in 2026. Additionally, he will play on his current number and there will be no extension — at least for now.
"No, we haven’t begun that," Peters told reporters Tuesday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis regarding a potential contract extension.
"I don’t think we’re gonna explore that at this time. Really excited to have Daron with us next year, and can probably address that later, maybe after the year. But, and I’ve talked with his agent about that, what I can say is I got a ton of respect for Daron. His toughness, his physicality, his leadership, his ability to play and be available all the time. And there’s nobody tougher than him, and I think he’s going to really have a chance to flourish in this new defense, which will be a little bit multiple and allow him to move around a little bit, but right now, I think (left tackle) Laremy (Tunsil), at this point, is the only one we’re talking to."
There you have it. Payne will return in 2026. This is not a surprise. First, you must consider who would replace Payne? Even if it's a different regime, the Commanders clearly remember how Payne played in 2022 when he was in a contract year. In 2022, the final year of his rookie deal, Payne set career highs across the board, recording 64 tackles, including 20 for loss, 11.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. Since that season, Payne has combined for 11 sacks and 25 tackles for loss across 49 games and three seasons.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones comes from Minnesota, where he coached under Brian Flores. While Jones didn't indicate the type of defense he plans to employ in Washington, the indications are that he will use multiple fronts, which could benefit Payne.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Adam Peters confirms Daron Payne's status
Continue reading...
Payne is set to count $28 million against Washington's salary cap in 2026, which is the highest number on the team. The Commanders could save over $16 million if they moved on from Payne this offseason, giving them even more financial flexibility in free agency. Moving on from Payne would make sense, considering he hasn't necessarily lived up to the four-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2023.
Washington general manager Adam Peters put those rumors to rest on Tuesday, confirming Payne will remain with the Commanders in 2026. Additionally, he will play on his current number and there will be no extension — at least for now.
"No, we haven’t begun that," Peters told reporters Tuesday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis regarding a potential contract extension.
"I don’t think we’re gonna explore that at this time. Really excited to have Daron with us next year, and can probably address that later, maybe after the year. But, and I’ve talked with his agent about that, what I can say is I got a ton of respect for Daron. His toughness, his physicality, his leadership, his ability to play and be available all the time. And there’s nobody tougher than him, and I think he’s going to really have a chance to flourish in this new defense, which will be a little bit multiple and allow him to move around a little bit, but right now, I think (left tackle) Laremy (Tunsil), at this point, is the only one we’re talking to."
There you have it. Payne will return in 2026. This is not a surprise. First, you must consider who would replace Payne? Even if it's a different regime, the Commanders clearly remember how Payne played in 2022 when he was in a contract year. In 2022, the final year of his rookie deal, Payne set career highs across the board, recording 64 tackles, including 20 for loss, 11.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. Since that season, Payne has combined for 11 sacks and 25 tackles for loss across 49 games and three seasons.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones comes from Minnesota, where he coached under Brian Flores. While Jones didn't indicate the type of defense he plans to employ in Washington, the indications are that he will use multiple fronts, which could benefit Payne.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Adam Peters confirms Daron Payne's status
Continue reading...
