Daron Payne becomes second-highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history

12 March 2023 , 22:40

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Daron Payne anchors the dominant Washington Commanders defensive line (Image: Nick Wass/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Washington Commanders star Daron Payne has become the second-highest paid defensive tackle in NFL history after reaching an agreement on a blockbuster contract.

On Sunday, the Commanders and Payne agreed to a four-year contract worth $90million, with $60m reportedly guaranteed. It is the largest deal for a defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams phenom.

Payne was slated to become a free agent on Wednesday, but the Commanders placed the franchise tag on him to ensure he wasn’t going anywhere. This is a very early signing - just over a week since the tag - so it appears both sides were motivated to complete a deal and keep Payne in Washington.

Payne would have played under the tag and earned $18.937m for the 2023 season. However, the Commanders planned on negotiating a long-term deal with Payne and have now locked him up alongside Jonathan Allen - who signed a lucrative extension a year ago - to bring stability to their defensive line.

Payne was selected in the first round with the 13th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. He had played out his five-year rookie contract, which was worth $14.4m over four years before he played the 2022 season on an $8.5m contract.

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The Washington Commanders placed the franchise tag on Daron Payne after he tallied 11.5 sacks in 2022 (AP)

The 25-year-old starred last season and was named to the Pro Bowl as he became one of the league’s premier defensive tackles. His Commanders impressed many but ultimately finished bottom of the Uber-competitive NFC East, despite securing a 8-8-1 record.

His best season came at the right time given it was a contract year, with Payne racking up 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Overall, the defensive tackle has 26 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and an interception across 81 games for Washington.

Ultimately, Payne’s contract will serve as a framework for other mega defensive tackle contracts that could be signed and completed in the very near future. This includes the likes of Jeffrey Simmons (Tennessee Titans), Quinnen Williams (New York Jets) and Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants).

Andrew Gamble