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You may have heard this several times in his eight-year career, but Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne may be poised for a big year. Washington’s new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones, is bringing in a system that is not tied to the Dan Quinn scheme. Both Jones and Quinn have had plenty of positives to say about Payne, Quinn most recently in his presser at the NFL Scouting Combine yesterday in Indianapolis.
As I previously stated, this storyline should be unfamiliar to Washington fans. Payne did deliver big for Washington in 2022, earning the only Pro Bowl bid of his career, but more often than not, the potential that coaches and fans have seen in him over the years hasn’t come to fruition. Can this year be different for Payne, though? It can be, but production matters more than ever before as he enters the final year of his contract. Payne is still in his prime and has a chance to increase his game-to-game impact and presence under Jones. But Javon Kinlaw, though he and Payne are two different types of athletes, is also in a position where his versatility could also elevate the defense’s floor. Both Kinlaw and Payne turn 29 this season.
Payne was not the only player Quinn and General Manager Adam Peters discussed during their time at the podium, and we discussed the news and nuggets from Peters’ and Quinn’s pressers on the latest Trap or Dive Podcast. You can listen to the full episode below. We discussed:
- Why no decision yet on Marshon Lattimore?
- Return of Zach Ertz and/or Bobby Wagner?
- Brandon Aiyuk deserves a second chance, but will it be in Washington?
- New life for Ben Sinnott under David Blough?
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