CBS’ Daron Payne trade proposal is too good for Commanders to pass up

The Washington Commanders are in a weird spot with the 2022 trade deadline fast approaching. At 3-4, they probably fall somewhere in the middle of a buyer and seller. That could change if they beat the Colts this weekend, but one player that’s regularly brought up as a potential sell candidate is Daron Payne.

Fans are largely split on whether they want the Commanders to trade the stud interior defender. If all things were equal and the cap didn’t matter, they’d simply make Payne one of the highest-paid players at his position.

It’s not that simple, though.

For starters, Jonathan Allen’s extension complicates matters. No team can afford to pay two defensive tackles top-dollar. It’s just not conducive to building a well-rounded defense. After all, Chase Young and Montez Sweat will be up for extensions, and edge rusher is far and away the more important position.

Of course, Washington shouldn’t trade Payne for the sake of doing so. They should start the bidding at multiple draft picks and shouldn’t budge unless they receive the perfect offer. What might that look like?

Look for further than CBS’ Cody Benjamin’s trade proposal.

The Commanders would be hard-pressed to turn down this trade proposal centered around star defender Daron Payne.

"Bill Belichick already has a stingy defense featuring Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux on the interior, but when has that stopped him from investing in more pieces for the front seven?” Benjamin wrote. “The Pats’ run “D” could also stand to take a leap, and Payne might be one of the best up-and-comers at the position; he just happens to reside on a team that’s already up against it with big-money deals along the defensive front."

Pairing Payne with Barmore and Godchaux would be a little head-scratching, but the destination isn’t our main concern here. Ideally, the Commanders would trade Payne out of the conference — and definitely out of the NFC East. The important thing is the draft compensation and two second-round picks would be a dream.

A first-rounder would be ideal, obviously, but Payne is set to hit free agency this offseason so that’s a pipe dream as any potential buyer would run the risk of him leaving for nothing after the season. Even if said buyer wants to extend him, Payne would cost more in draft capital if he was already under contract.

We’d settle for a second and third or a second and fourth. If a team is willing to overpay with two second-rounders, Washington shouldn’t lets its two (potentially three) game winning streak dissuade them from striking a deal.

Assuming Payne is the odd man out on the Commanders’ defensive line, trading the former first-rounder to a willing buyer (for the right price) is the smart move. Payne’s been utterly dominant this season and it would suck to see him go, but netting two second-round picks or any of the packages mentioned above for a player who’s likely to leave in a few months anyway would just be good business.