Commanders 'Expected' to Use Franchise Tag on Daron Payne, Per Report
The Washington Commanders have a big decision to make regarding the franchise tag over the next two weeks, but it appears the team is ready to make its choice, even if it isn't official yet.
According to The Athletic's Ben Standig, the team is "expected" to use the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne, keeping him with the Commanders without a long-term deal.
Payne is set to hit the open market next month, but the Commanders want to ensure that the sixth-year pro stays in Washington.
Should the Commanders use the franchise tag on Payne, it will cost Washington $19 million. It's a pricy tag, but worth it for a player of Payne's caliber.
Arguably the biggest in-house free agent, Payne enjoyed his best season in the NFL with 11.5 sacks. For comparison, Payne had 14.5 sacks in his first four seasons combined.
"We're working through that process now, obviously Daron is an important part of what we're doing," general manager Martin Mayhew said earlier this offseason. "It'd be difficult to move forward without him, obviously. We have a plan and we definitely wanna get him back.”
The Commanders drafted Phidarian Mathis in the second round of last year's draft to possibly replace Payne when his contract was up. But Mathis was knocked out for the rest of the season after his second defensive snap, resulting in more playing time and production from Payne.
The Commanders last used the franchise tag on offensive lineman Brandon Scherff for 2020 and 2021, but failed to reach a long-term deal to keep him in Washington. Last offseason, Scherff signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The franchise tag should eventually trigger talks of a long-term deal for Payne, but that likely will be pushed back once he is tagged in the coming weeks.
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