Washington Commanders DT Daron Payne 'Open to Anything' With New Coaching Staff

The Washington Commanders have a new staff, new approach, and if defensive tackle Daron Payne is asked to do some new things he's open to it.

Sep 11, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) / Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Commanders new coaching staff has emphasized figuring out what their players do best and putting in those positions to maximize their potential.

Commanders coaches Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. had a lot of success doing this for the Dallas Cowboys defense resultig in linebacker Micah Parsons becoming one of the more disruptive talents in the NFL over the past three years.

The duo had similar success with cornerback Daron Bland who was able to make a big impact last season in the pick-six department, something Washington unfortunately contributed to on Thanksgiving Day.

Sep 11, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) / Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

So the question this offseason is what might happen with some of the talent being inherited by the new staff as they look to move players around and use them in ways that unlock even more potential than previously seen.

"We got some (defensive ends) that can get the job done," defensive tackle Daron Payne said when asked about potentially moving around the line under the new staff. "When (defensive end) Chase (Young) and them left I played a little D-end (and) that was new to me. I played D-tackle my whole life and they threw me out there at D-end. I made a couple of plays out there so I'm open to anything bro. I just love playing D-line."

Payne is entering the second year of a deal he signed last offseason after notching 11.5 sacks in 2022, a career high.

He followed up with four more in 2023 giving him 30 in six NFL seasons, most among all defensive tackles drafted in 2018.

Payne's seventh season will be played under his third NFL head coach and given the amount of excitement building around the organization may be he best staff yet.