Commanders DT Daron Payne: Best Defensive Free Agent?
The Washington Commanders are expected to use the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne sometime within the next week.
The deadline to use the franchise tag comes on Mar. 7, just a little over a week before the start of free agency.
While a long-term deal would be the best case scenario for Payne and the Commanders, it appears unlikely at this point because the sixth-year pro from Alabama can set the market as arguably the best defensive free agent in the league.
Payne ranks No. 6 on Pro Football Talk's Top 100 free agents, sitting behind quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders), Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks), Daniel Jones (New York Giants) and fellow defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (Philadelphia Eagles).
While Hargrave enjoyed more team success this season with the Eagles than Payne did with the Commanders, the latter had a slightly better statistical season and is five years younger.
The difference between Hargrave and Payne is hair-splitting and you can make the argument for either one to be the top defensive tackle on the market. But that also explains why Washington's No. 1 priority is to keep Payne at all costs, even if the front office has to use the franchise tag in order to do it.
There were no other Commanders on PFT's Top 100 list, ensuring that bringing Payne back is the No. 1 priority for Washington in this free agency cycle.
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