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Redskins Training Camp Profile: NT Daron Payne

By Jacob Camenker

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Da’Ron Payne of Alabama after he was picked #13 overall by the Washington Redskins during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Da’Ron Payne of Alabama after he was picked #13 overall by the Washington Redskins during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2018 outlook for Payne

Nose tackles don’t typically have massive stat lines in the NFL. Generally speaking, they are on the field to occupy bodies and stop the run. All that Payne needs to do is ensure that he’s an upgrade over Ziggy Hood, who struggled at nose tackle last season for the Redskins.

Payne should easily be able to do that from a statistical standpoint. Hood had 25 tackles and 0.5 sacks last season, so those numbers should be easily replicable for Payne and hopefully, he should exceed them. After all, he is a bit bigger than Hood and is definitely more athletic. So, if given a chance at nose tackle, he should do well.

More importantly, Payne’s addition should make the job of other front seven defenders easier. They should all see slight increases in their stat lines as teams are forced to focus a bit more on Payne. As he continues to develop, he will gain more pass rushing moves and will get in the face of opposing quarterbacks. And once opponents focus on him, Ryan Kerrigan, Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, and many others will benefit from his presence.

Payne has a chance to be the biggest upgrade on the Redskins team. That may seem like an overstatement, but the nose tackle position has been such a big weakness for so many years. If Payne can at least provide average to above average play in his rookie year, he will give the defense something they haven’t had in years.

Next: Predicting Redskins starters before training camp

The Redskins are likely to go from a suspect defense to a top 10 unit. Much of that is thanks to the presence of Payne. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first season, and if going a bit more under the radar than other Skins prospects has an impact on his performance.

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