Cowboys Rival Commanders Move on DT Daron Payne with Franchise Tag

Daron Payne and a chance for Dallas to "shoot its shot''? Nah. The Commanders have used the tag.

FRISCO - It was a heck of an idea that Daron Payne’s employer just could not let happen: The Dallas Cowboys steal away one of the Washington Commanders' best player, thus fortifying a team weak spot in the defensive line while also weakening an NFC East rival?

Sure. But nah.

Very early Tuesday, Daron Payne became the first player this offseason to get the franchise tag, per ESPN. The franchise tag for Payne is projected to be $18.937 million.

What did Dallas ever have to do with this? PFF, with it's "Best Landing Spots'' piece, brought up a Dallas bid.

What gets left off most of these lists and guesses and projections, though, is ...

How much?

Washington did not in the 2022 offseason give Payne a new deal. Maybe they wanted to wait and see. And now we've seen, Payne both playing a like big-bodied interior guy while also racking up a career-high 11.5 sacks.

"Washington has an elite interior defender already signed to a big multi-year deal in Jonathan Allen — a deal that will look like a total steal after the pending market explosion at the position this offseason — so that will certainly soften the blow here," says Pro Football Focus, naming Payne the Commanders player they can't afford to lose. "Payne’s 48 quarterback pressures in 2022 ranked ninth among interior defenders, as he’s developed into a solid pass rusher over his first five seasons. 

"At the least, Washington should place the franchise tag on Payne."

Yup.

But Washington had to consider the same "at what price'' game. Allen will count $19 million against Washington's 2023 salary cap, and …

Quick math means that if the Commanders follow PFF's strategy, they'll be paying north of $40 million for its two starting defensive tackles - with both guys in the top five of the NFL in average annual value among all defensive tackles.

That creates a cap/roster imbalance in Washington.

But pending an unlikely trade of Payne, it also means a Dallas rival keeps its talent … which keeps up the challenges in the NFC East.

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