Commanders, Daron Payne conform to 4-year, $90 million deal: Source

The Washington Commanders and star defensive sort out Daron Payne have agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract, a league supply confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. Here’s what you must know:

• Payne’s contract contains $60 million assured, the supply stated.
• The new deal comes after Washington positioned the franchise tag on Payne on Feb. 28.
• Payne, 25, was named to the Pro Bowl after posting a career-best 11 1/2 sacks and 64 mixed tackles final season.

The Athletic’s prompt evaluation:

Why now?

Stunning. Not the phrases, however the timing.

The Athletic started reporting in December that the defensive market was poised for a collective elevate just like the huge receivers loved final season with annual common salaries going north of $21 million. Payne positioned himself for a value hike after a breakout 12 months as his go speeding numbers match, however Washington had the franchise tag choice and possession uncertainty.

Placing the tag on the 2018 first-round decide final month would imply an $18.97 million wage. Hardly ideally suited as a one-year cap hit, however good worth based mostly on market expectations and would permit the entrance workplace to barter deeper into the summer season when maybe a brand new proprietor took over. Instead, the 2 sides get this finished properly forward of the mid-July deadline — and earlier than Monday’s unofficial begin to free company, which was a aim of Washington’s.

All of this results in questioning about the way forward for edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Both have potential extensions looming, which factored into the choice to not prolong Payne final 12 months, as did signing DT Jonathan Allen to a four-year, $72 million contract in 2021. — Standig

What’s subsequent for Washington’s protection?

The Commanders’ protection recovered after a sluggish begin to gasoline Washington’s surge into the wild-card image and it was its defensive sort out combo that fueled the hassle. Payne and Allen completed with 19 sacks and 34 tackles-for-loss, however their inside presence went past their joint statistics. The back-7 benefitted from the pocket-collapsing tandem as did edge rushers.

With Payne again, Washington is likely to be one other cornerback away from taking the protection additional up the rankings, all of which helps restrict the stress on potential beginning quarterback Sam Howell. — Standig

Where Payne stacks up amongst DTs

Payne ranked third amongst defensive tackles in sacks, solely behind the Chiefs’ Chris Jones and the Jets’ Quinnen Williams. Payne’s 11 1/2 sacks in 2022 had been a pointy leap from any of his earlier seasons, together with his prior profession excessive of 5 sacks occurring in 2018, his rookie season.

Payne has additionally seen a rise in his go stress proportion, by way of TruMedia, by way of the final 4 years: 5.9 % in 2019, 6.2 % in 2020, 9.6 % in 2021 and 2022. Here’s a take a look at sack totals and stress percentages from among the prime defensive tackles final season:

Payne’s stress price doesn’t fairly match up with a few of his friends, however there’s little doubt that he’s a participant who’s ascending. — Holder

Backstory

Payne is coming into his sixth season with the Commanders, who chosen him with the No. 13 decide within the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s began 75 out of 81 profession video games he’s performed and tallied 291 tackles, 26 sacks and 55 quarterback hits.

Last season, Payne was a stalwart on a Washington protection that ranked No. 3 within the NFL in yards allowed and No. 7 in factors allowed per sport.

Required studying

(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)