3 ways the Commanders blew away expectations during 2023 offseason

Commanders did the right thing with Daron Payne

Keeping stud defensive tackle Daron Payne was made a high priority by the Washington Commanders. The organization rightfully used the franchise tag to stop him from leaving in free agency, which was quickly followed by a four-year, $90 million deal that included around $60 million guaranteed.

Tying Payne down long-term was the minimum expectation, at least from a fan perspective. However, it was the efficiency with which this tricky situation was handled that far surpassed expectations.

Payne will continue his blossoming partnership with Jonathan Allen that’s arguably the league’s most destructive. While there is now a lot of money committed to their starting defensive tackle tandem, but allowing the former Alabama star to walk was simply not an option following such an exceptional campaign.

Ron Rivera is a firm believer in drafting, developing, and rewarding. This is something that’s been evident throughout his tenure and the easy nature of Payne’s contract process is another sign of growing trust between the head coach, his players, and their agent representation.

Keeping Payne around for his prime years was a critical piece of the puzzle in Washington. But what this means for Montez Sweat and Chase Young’s upcoming deals is the biggest talking point with both looking for new deals in 2024.