Commanders not expected to extend Daron Payne in surprise twist

The unpredictability encompassing the 2022 NFL Draft is the most appreciable in recent draft history. With no lock to be taken No. 1 overall and no way to predict how the first 10 picks will unfold, the Washington Commanders could be thrown multiple curveballs before it’s their turn to pick in the first round.

But what if the team itself threw fans a curveball? What if the off-speed pitch was thrown just days before the club’s biggest draft since we can remember? Somehow, that’s exactly what’s happened with draft night two days away.

According to The Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Commanders are not expected to extend defensive tackle Daron Payne. Leading up to the combine, Ron Rivera was outspoken about Payne being in the team’s future plans.

For whatever reason, that now seems unlikely.

The Commanders are not expected to extend DT Daron Payne.

Here’s what Rivera told Standig about Payne back in February.

"We have a tremendous amount of interest in making sure these guys (Payne and Terry McLaurin) are with us going forward.I think the biggest thing more than anything else is that the process is not near close to being completed. You’d love to have is clarity as soon as possible, but you just won’t because of the nature of the game. This could drag on right up into the draft, or it could happen before the draft."

Perhaps negotiations hit a snag or Payne reversed course about wanting to spend his future with Washington. Maybe the Commanders themselves realized how difficult it was going to be to pay all four members of their defensive line.

While Jonathan Allen got his extension last year, Payne was supposed to be next in line, followed by Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Now, though, Payne is set to play out the final year of his rookie deal and hit free agency next offseason.

Of course, this doesn’t seal the 2018 first-round pick’s fate. There’s always the possibility of a potential re-signing. The Commanders could even go the franchise tag route if they don’t want to make a long-term commitment to the star tackle.

Whatever ends up happening, the Commanders have major questions to answer with draft night fast approaching. Currently holders of six picks, with the potential to acquire more via trade back, defensive line is suddenly a position of need following this Payne news and the departures of Tim Settle and Matt Ioannidis.

Keep an eye on what this means for Sweat, too, as Washington has exactly a week to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option.

We think we speak for most Commanders fans when we say we’re utterly shocked and disappointed by this Payne update. He’s a top-three most important player on the defense and losing him would be devastating.