3 Commanders who could get paid next after Daron Payne deal

Kamren Curl – Commanders S

One of the biggest bright spots to emerge from the 2022 season was Kamren Curl‘s outstanding growth. The gifted safety enhances his status within a defense that shone once again under Jack Del Rio, which is a trend likely to continue in the coming years if the player builds on a campaign of immense promise.

Curl’s story is an inspiring one. Nobody gave him much of a chance after as a seventh-round pick out of Arkansas in 2020, but he seized his opportunity with the Washington Commanders and is now widely considered to be one of the best young safeties anywhere in the league.

For three seasons now, Curl has been nothing short of outstanding. He is a hard hitter in the run game and is also developing from a coverage standpoint encouragingly, so hopes could not be higher for the player’s long-term aspirations in Washington.

This is something the Commanders should reward with a new deal. It’s the least Curl deserves after rising from relative obscurity and at 23 years old, the defensive back is only going to get better heading into his prime years.

Locking down Curl to a new contract is essential for the Commanders. Something that the team is no doubt contemplating given Ron Rivera’s preference for rewarding established guys rather than gambling big on unknown quantities.