THE PAYNE FILE
Team: Washington Commanders
Height: 6-3
Weight: 320
Birthday: 5/27/1997
Age: 25
40-Yard Dash: 4.91 seconds
College: Alabama
Draft: 1st Round, 13th overall, 2018.
Contract: Signed a four-year, $90 extension, 2023
WAG: Reportedly dating Nakoma Rutledge.
Children: Non reported
Record/Accomplishments
· Pro Bowl, 2022
· PFWA All-Rookie team, 2018
· Sugar Bowl, Defensive MVP, 2018
· CFP Champion, 2017
· Defensive MVP, CFP Championship, 2017
· 1st Team All-SEC, 2017
· Freshman All-American, 2015.
The Washington Commanders are intent on continuing to deliver to the Payne. Or is it pain?.
The strength of Commanders defense is its overpowering defensive line. It also has been a source of contention.
Payne, and his former teammate at Alabama, Jonathan Allen got into a scuffle during a game in 2022, leaving some to wonder if the Commanders would retain the two. Allen was extended in 2021 to the tune of four years, $72 million. The Commanders wrapped up DT Daron Payne with a four-year, $90 million extension.
Guess they could fight over who deserved the better contract, but one thing is certain: With Payne and Allen in the middle, opposing team’s will be hard pressed to find a way to run the ball on the Commanders.
Payne is coming off a monster season in which he posted career-highs in tackles (64), sacks (11) and passes defensed (5). Those last two numbers illuminate why Payne is such a valuable player. Not only does he crush it against the run, but not many players of his size can rush the passer and drop in coverage.
Regardless of what the Commanders do in the draft, the defense will have to carry this franchise. Sam Howell, a rookie last season, won the starting job by the end of the year. He’s far from a proven commodity.
Although the Commanders are not expected to draft a QB, stranger things can happen. Washington also signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to an eye-opening one-year, $10 million with $8 million guaranteed. Brissett is 18-30 as a starter.
Like we said, the defense will have to carry with Commanders. No better place to start than the law firm of Payne and Allen. Or is it Pain and Allen?