Assessing Redskins First Round Options: Nose Tackle Da’Ron Payne

The Case for Da’Ron Payne

There’s no doubt that Payne is going to be one of the best athletes in this draft class. Because of this, it’s probable that he will find success early on during his NFL career.

Despite his 6-foot-2, 320 pound frame, Payne has excellent movement skills and is a very fast player. He will be able to quickly shoot gaps and overpower interior defensive linemen at the nose tackle position, and that could make him strong against the run and the pass. In the modern NFL, collapsing the interior of the pocket is one of the most important skills, and Payne’s ability to do that will make him an attractive candidate.

Payne’s athleticism was on display during Alabama’s College Football Playoff run, and he looked particularly versatile against Clemson. Though he spent most of the game anchoring the defensive line, Payne worked hard on a play that saw him catch a pick that came right to him and return it for a big gain. In fact, you can see it here thanks to the SEC Network Twitter.

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Payne’s ability to, first of all, react to that ball and catch it was amazing. Then, seeing the big man get outside was impressive as well, and his speed and size were on display. It’s clear that he has the athletic upside to be something special from that play. And, the fact that the Crimson Tide would later throw a touchdown to him in that game showcases his versatility.

Payne should be able to play any position on a 3-4 line, though his best fit will undoubtedly come at the nose tackle spot. He would immediately be among the best athletes at that position across the league, so that alone is reason enough to take a shot at him. And if he blows up the Combine, which is quite possible due to his athletic ability, he could rise up and become a top 15 lock.

For the Redskins, Payne would be a plug-and-play starter at nose tackle. They have long lacked a quality player at that position, and they need to invest in a long term fix. Pairing Payne with Jonathan Allen could do a lot to improve their front seven, so considering him with the No. 13 pick would make sense. Also, it’s worth noting that the team has expressed interest in Payne recently, so they may want to pull the trigger on him earlier than some expect.