The Washington Commanders quickly ended speculation around Daron Payne's future this offseason. They are going to make him earn it in the final year of his deal, which has proven highly successful in the past and will hopefully do so again.
However, one Philadelphia Eagles reporter slammed the Commanders' decision to keep Payne around rather than removing him from the equation.
Washington had many holes to fill. Trading or cutting Payne would have left another gaping void. General manager Adam Peters is confident improvements can come with a better supporting cast within Daronte Jones' scheme, but what comes next is down to the player.
Eagles insider thought Commanders should have cut bait with Daron Payne
Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice couldn't believe Payne is still on the Commanders. He thought cutting him with the savings attached should have been a no-brainer, especially given his production was spiraling. But at the cap commitment, nothing but dominance will do.
"[Daron] Payne had a monster season in 2022, when he had 11.5 sacks. The following offseason he scored a four-year deal worth $90 million. His production has dropped off sharply since. He has 11 sacks in the last three seasons combined, and hasn't been the same run defender either.
"Payne will count for just under $28 million on the Commanders' cap this season. The Commanders could have cut Payne this offseason and saved over $16 million, which felt like a no-brainer to me, but they chose to keep him."
Scoffing at the Commanders' decision is easy from the outside looking in. But for a team in desperate need of stability, it makes sense.
The Commanders haven't committed to Payne beyond 2026. It's a contract year, which is always enough to raise urgency for everybody. The former Alabama standout shone in this situation during the 2022 campaign, and even though he is a little older now, there is nothing to suggest this scenario cannot happen again.
If he cannot raise performance levels, the Commanders will get a good compensatory pick when Payne signs elsewhere in free agency next year. If he performs well and continues to evolve as a leader, Peters would be wise to give him another two or three-year deal for his efforts.
It's a fluid situation, but any new contract will be based solely on merit. Payne knows how high the stakes are, and he's reportedly been working exceptionally hard away from the team to hit the ground running. He's also now among the team's longest-serving players, which brings an added sense of responsibility.
Payne has been challenged, and he must respond. If he does, the Eagles and everyone else in the NFC East will be in for a fight.
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