Commanders Want to See Daron Payne in a 3-4 Before Handing Him a New Deal

The Washington Commanders lost a lot of games last season. Five, to be exact. A lot of that falls on Jayden Daniels getting hurt and missing the rest of the year. But going into 2026, the team is banking on its veteran core to get them back to the playoffs.

One of those veterans is about to play with something to prove. Daron Payne, the 29-year-old defensive tackle, is in the final year of his contract. And the Commanders are not rushing to extend him.

General manager Adam Peters made that pretty clear early in the offseason. The only contract extension he would even talk about was left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Payne, who has been a Commanders fixture since they drafted him in the first round back in 2018, will have to wait.

ESPN’s John Keim reported Wednesday that Washington wants to see how Payne fits into new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones’ scheme before they discuss money. Jones runs a 3-4 base defense, which is a change from the four-man front the team has used for years. Payne’s cap hit this season is $27.9 million and he’s playing on the four-year, $90 million deal he signed in 2023.

Here’s the interesting thing. The last time Payne played in a 3-4 defense, he had a career year. 11.5 sacks. That was back in college. If he can get back to that kind of production, it could completely change the way Washington’s defense looks next season.

Keim said the front office and coaching staff want to evaluate how he handles that new role before they commit any more money. It makes sense. A 29-year-old defensive tackle with a huge cap number — you want to be sure he’s the right fit before you hand him another big deal.

But waiting could work out for both sides. If Payne has a monster season in a system that suits him, he’s in line for a payday. And the Commanders get a motivated player and a clear picture before they decide how much they’re willing to spend. It’s not exactly a gamble for either side. It’s just business.

Payne has been a steady presence on that line for years. The team knows what he can do. What they don’t know is how he’ll look in a 3-4. By this time next year, they’ll have their answer.