The one player the Washington Football Team should eventually trade

Which teams might be interested in Daron Payne?

Payne has enormous upside. He can play the nose in a 3-4 set, though I think he is at his best as a classic one-technique tackle lining up between the guard and center. This makes him particularly attractive to teams that run hybrid defensive schemes. And that may be one of the reasons he has been linked in some trade scenarios to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons’ new defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, loves defenders that offer flexibility.

I don’t see a trade with Atlanta as likely, though. Just as Washington may want to spread the wealth a bit more across the roster, Atlanta is already heavily invested in an outstanding interior lineman in Grady Jarrett. I imagine Pees could work wonders with Jarrett and Payne lining up together at the heart of the Falcons defense, but what Atlanta really needs are edge players.

But Detroit is a different story. The Lions have the underachieving Danny Shelton and a mundane collection of other interior linemen. I have absolutely no read on what new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn values in terms of personnel, but with a new coaching staff in place, changes can be expected.

The Lions currently have the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, and have recently acquired 26-year-old Jared Goff to take over the quarterback job from long-time starter Matthew Stafford. If Detroit sees Goff as more than a short-term replacement, they may be willing to part with that pick.

Daron Payne by himself does not get you that pick. But he could be a vital part of any such package.

I would hate to lose Payne. But the Washington Football Team cannot keep Allen, Payne, Ioannidis, and Tim Settle for much longer. No one knows if Settle can be productive if he assumes a larger role, but he has been very good as a backup, doing many of the things on the interior that Payne has done. Both Allen and Ioannidis, with their ability to play inside, or outside in a three-man front, offer great flexibility. Developmental players like Caleb Brantley and Devaroe Lawrence could still figure into the picture.

I am a big believer in drafting the best player available as opposed to drafting for need. The underlying premise is that acquiring more talent gives you more flexibility. Drafting a quality player doesn’t always mean you keep that player. There are situations in which you have a wealth of talent at one position. That is when you turn that quality depth into a trade asset, in order to acquire players at positions of need.

The Washington Football Team now finds itself in that position. And it may need to say good-bye to Daron Payne in order to continue its ascent.