Is Daron Payne Worth the Price Tag Heading Into a Contract Year?

The discussion turns to Daron Payne, a player who has been solid but not spectacular, carries a significant cap hit, and may have some trade value in the final year of his contract. Chris Russell breaks down Payne’s cap obligations over the next two seasons and reviews his on-field production, including pressure numbers from last season according to Next Gen Stats. The Rooster also highlights Payne’s own comments after the season, in which he emphasized that he’s a good player and expects that someone will pay him. After analyzing all the factors, Chris offers his perspective on whether the Commanders should keep Payne, explore cutting him, or consider trading him, weighing financial implications, performance, and team needs.