The Washington Commanders announced today that they have placed the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne. Payne will earn $18.937 million on the tag if he and the Commanders cannot come to an agreement on a long-term deal, which would give him the fourth-highest annual salary among defensive tackles. Spotrac projects his market value as $19.49million a year.
Last season, Payne played and started all 17 games and recorded a career high 64 total tackles (33 solo), 11.5 sacks, 20 QBH’s, five passes defensed, and one fumble recovered. Payne finished the season becoming the seventh defensive tackle in franchise history to be selected to a Pro Bowl.