Daron Payne is Getting PAID (Which Could Have Some Bears Ramifications)
Free agency opens its doors TOMORROW as teams and agents representing unrestricted free agents can talk shop on new contracts.
But TODAY, it was Franchise Tagged Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne getting a big payday. One that resets the market on the eve of free agency:
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports it is a four-year deal worth $90 million. That puts the AAV of Payne’s deal at $22.5 million. Or to put it differently, it makes Payne the second-highest-paid interior defensive lineman. Only Aaron Donald cashes larger checks on a per year basis than Payne. Sounds like good company to me.
With Payne getting paid handsomely, it has me thinking if this will have major Bears ramifications. Payne likely would’ve been a free agent target GM Ryan Poles would’ve had eyes on with hopes of wooing him to Chicago. Last year’s Bears defense was a mess, with the defensive line lacking impact talent. Payne would’ve represented an upgrade in Chicago. Instead, he stays in Washington and gets a contract that could adjust the expectations of what free agents could get in their next deal.
Eagles free agent defensive tackle Javon Hargrave sees the writing on the wall:
It’ll be interesting to see if Payne’s deal inflates what Hargrave, Dre’Mont Jones, Zach Allen, and others could command when the “legal tampering” period begins. The Bears still have north of $70 million in cap space to work with, so they can still make a splash at that spot. But it’s not like this is the only position this team needs to fill. So stay tuned.
