The Washington Commanders and defensive tackle Daron Payne agreed on a four-year, $90 million deal with $60 million in guarantees on Sunday. That reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal is made after the Commanders place the franchise tag on Payne. The deal makes him the second highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL behind Aaron Donald, according to the report.
Payne, 25, reached his first career Pro Bowl after last season, his fifth in the NFL. The Commanders selected Payne number 13 in the 2018 draft. They exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal prior to last season and applied the franchise tag this offseason before Sunday’s news of a long-term contract.
Payne would have made $18.94 million in 2023 had he played under the franchise tag. If fully realized, his new contract will earn him an average of $22.5 million over four seasons.
Payne enshrines a line of defense that sticks out like a force to the commanders. He led the team with a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022, in addition to 18 tackles for loss, five passes defensed, a fumble to recover, and a safety. Alongside fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young – when healthy – the Commanders boast one of the NFL’s most imposing defensive lines.
