"Payne has one more year remaining on his deal in 2026. The former Alabama standout has played well overall this season, and his dominant outing against the Eagles - albeit versus some second-stringers - left an emphatic impression that only strengthens his claims for another extension ahead of time. This was an undoubted positive from Payne's perspective. Whether it's enough for Peters to alter his strategy on this issue is another matter."
"One could make a case for Payne being a shining light on an otherwise poor defensive front this season. The supporting cast isn't great, and he's the one constant. What the Commanders need to figure out is whether they would get bang for their buck by handing the Pro Bowler another long-term commitment. Fans would argue that Payne only turns up the urgency in a contract year."
The Washington Commanders upset the Philadelphia Eagles in the season finale, delivering a morale-boosting win under head coach Dan Quinn. General manager Adam Peters faces a pressing roster dilemma centered on defensive lineman Daron Payne, who has one year remaining on his contract. Payne produced a dominant outing against the Eagles and has played well overall this season, strengthening his argument for an early extension. The defensive interior around Payne lacks reliable supporting talent, raising questions about long-term value and salary-cap impact. The team must balance paying Payne market value against preserving cap room to address other roster needs.
Read at Riggo's Rag
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]