There remains speculation about Daron Payne's future. Reports suggest those in power are willing to let the Pro Bowl defensive lineman play out the final year of his deal in 2026, but nothing has been set in stone so early into the offseason.
Everything should be fluid for the Washington Commanders. Not much went right in 2025, and fans are expecting a massive revamp of the playing personnel. Just where Payne fits into these plans remains to be seen, but removing him would leave another gaping hole.
General manager Adam Peters and his staff are heading to Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. This provides a golden chance to get a closer look at potential draft picks of interest. It's also a time for possible negotiations with other senior league personnel from other clubs, all in the same place.
Commanders' negotiations at NFL Scouting Combine could reveal their stance on Daron Payne
This is something Peters capitalized on last year when he struck a trade deal for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. Another incoming seems far-fetched this time around unless a bargain of epic proportions dropped into Washington's lap. But there might be a team or two ready to test the Commanders' reported stance on Payne in the coming days.
Even though Payne has failed to reach the heights of his Pro Bowl campaign, he's still productive. A lack of consistency with his supporting cast made the former Alabama standout difficult to evaluate in 2025. And letting him play out the last season of his $90 million extension means Washington could lose him for nothing when 2027 free agency rolls around.
The Commanders aren't in a position to be shutting down any trade offers, aside from a couple of long-term cornerstones. Peters may have a price in mind for Payne, but he's also reportedly willing to keep him around. That gives him some extra leverage, and the player could potentially thrive as a 3-4 defensive end within Daronte Jones' new aggressive system.
Giving Payne an extension early doesn't seem likely. Trading him is possible, which would save the Commanders $16.75 million in salary cap space. They could just as easily stand pat and hope for improvements. But either way, the coming days in Indianapolis will provide a broader indication of where things stand between the player and the team that spent a first-round pick on him in 2018.
All signs still point to Payne being on the Commanders' roster in 2026. But as last offseason's moves in Washington proved, things can change in the blink of an eye.
Still, it would have to be a sizable offer for Peters to part ways. That much cannot be disputed.