Monday saw the Commanders make a pair of cost-cutting moves which gave them considerable financial flexibility. Today, they have taken an expected step using some of those funds. 
Washington has placed the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne, per a team announcement. That comes as little surprise with the tag deadline one week away, and a considerable market awaiting him had he been allowed to test free agency. This move allows the team to continue contract talks through mid-July on what would be a very lucrative long-term deal.
Payne, 25, played himself into a sizeable pay raise this season. He put up career-highs across the board, including 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He racked up 64 total stops, 20 QB hits and five pass deflections, demonstrating his value both against the run and as a disruptive presence in the passing game. The Commanders had been expected to use the tag on Payne.
Doing so will lock him into a $18.94MM salary for 2023 in the absence of a new deal. That would add further financial commitment to a Commanders defensive front which already features former first-rounders Chase Young and Montez Sweat on the edges and Jonathan Allen along the interior. Keeping Payne is a logical priority, one which head coach Ron Rivera confirmed earlier this offseason. With more than $17MM in cap space even after this move, the team still has the flexibility to make others in advance of free agency, regardless of Payne’s status.
With the Alabama product officially off the market, the top pending free agent along the defensive interior will not be able to test free agency. Attention will instead turn to the likes of Javon Hargrave, Dalvin Tomlinson and Larry Ogunjobi in terms of high-end DTs whose contracts are set to expire. Negotiations between Payne and the Commanders, meanwhile, will continue without as much urgency as would have been necessary if they had elected not to use the tag.
It’s nice to have a pair of standout defensive tackles, but paying over $40 million next season for the pleasure would be wild.
I agree, but I think it’s okay to double down on strengths too. As a Browns fan, I’d prefer doing this to their current strategy of building a defensive line for four easy payments of $19.99
I guess. Doubling down on a strength was spending four first round picks on defensive linemen in five years. Is it as much of a strength when you’re paying those same four guys more than a quarter of your salary cap?
The Browns certainly need to invest more and better in their interior defensive line, but there’s a lot of room in between these two extremes.
Nice of the Commanders to do this on a day when ESPN is reporting that the club is under investigation by the local US Attorney for potential bank fraud.
Jerry might have backed a loan to Crisco Dan and now needs Go-Jo to get his hands clean.
Read the ESPN story if you haven’t already. Jerry Jones has nothing to do with the US Attorney’s investigation into the Commanders.
Stan is a bum
The Commanders got some good value on offense in last year’s draft (Brian Robinson and Jahan Dotson) thus they probably thought they had some cash to spend on the defensive side of the ball, however, I think that money would have been better spent on improving the offensive line.
Yep. They could also use some more talent in the back end of their defense, not to mention the part where the only QB on their roster is a 5th rounder with 19 pro pass attempts to his name.
Rather than keep investing into a middle of the pack D w/ multiple young 1st rounders on it again, I have a novel idea. Trade this guy to a team with a young QB that has his early ups & downs; Mac, Trey, J Love etc. And try building an offense since it is an offensive driven league.
I’m kind of surprised but not. The mistake was investing that much draft capital in one position. But since they’re both standouts might work in their favor. Kind of horrible cap strategy though. 40 million DT’s and a 19.99 QB right now.