Daron Payne must live up to lofty Commanders extension after injury blow

Losing stud defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is a devastating blow to the Washington Commanders. He's an outstanding leadership presence that others look to for inspiration. While his on-field influence has waned slightly, it's a monumental void to fill.

Dan Quinn will probably split reps between second-round rookie Johnny Newton and Phidarian Mathis initially. Both players have potential, but occupying these responsibilities is a journey into the unknown. They've got talent, so hopes are high that this duo can maximize their increased roles and make a lasting impact.

This puts the onus squarely on Daron Payne. He must start living up to the lucrative contract extension provided by the Commanders to prevent him from leaving in free agency last year.

Commanders need more from Daron Payne without Jonathan Allen

Payne's 11.5-sack season in 2022 looks like an anomaly rather than the production Washington can expect from the lineman. It's amazing what the added motivation of a contract year can do. But now is the time for the former first-round pick to repay this faith.

There have been flashes of promise this season, but they've been fleeting. Payne didn't record a single statistic at the Baltimore Ravens, which was unacceptable. He's far too talented to be a non-factor - something that cannot continue moving forward without the services of Allen to call upon.

The Commanders will be counting on Payne more than ever. The Alabama product needs to remind the world why he was such a highly touted draft prospect and why he received a four-year, $90 million extension with a $28 million signing bonus and $59.01 million guaranteed. Washington needs this as the team looks to continue its exceptional start to the campaign and potentially challenge for the NFC East championship in Year 1 under new head coach Dan Quinn.

This won't go unnoticed by Payne. He knows how much Allen means to the organization. He knows how pivotal his performances will be to the Commanders' chances as the campaign goes on. He must lead from the front through sound production and by helping Newton and Mathis step up their performance levels in a high-pressure situation.

Payne is the second-highest cap hit on the Commanders in 2024 at $21.61 million. One could argue his performances haven't met this lofty financial commitment so far. Considering the figure is rising to $26.17 million and $28.01 million over the final two years of his deal, the urgency is there for all to see.

Not having Allen's experienced, motivational influence on and off the field will be devastating to the team's short-term aspirations if Payne cannot thrive in the alpha role. The physical gifts are evident and he knows how to take over a game when in the mood. Doing this more consistently is a big challenge, especially becoming the primary focus of opposing protection schemes.

This gets even more testing if Dorance Armstrong Jr. - the team's most prolific edge rusher - is also forced to miss time. The defensive end is getting further tests on a rib injury suffered against the Ravens. If it's bad news, Payne needs to become the game-wrecking force fans witnessed in 2022.

Nothing else will do.

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