Commanders roster rankings: Daron Payne is Washington’s No. 5 player
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 14: Jeremy Reaves #39 and Daron Payne #94 of the Washington Commanders celebrate a missed field goal by the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on December 14, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesEditor's note:We'llcount down the top 10 Commanders players on the 2026 roster regardless of position sporadically over the next few weeks.Before we get to it,here'show we arrived at the ranking: Our Scott Bair, Scott Jennings and Mark Tyler compiled a top13-norankingwasidentical- withpoints assigned to each ranking slotfrom all three lists.We used these point values to form a consensus top 10 ranking.We'llwritea story on each member of the top 10 and another on othersreceiving votes at the end. Plus, Mark willprobably havea Tyler's Take with his thoughts.You'llsurely object to some of these rankings, though debate iskind of thepoint with lists like this. Today we focus on No. 5:
Washington drafted a defensive linemen in the first round for four straight years(2017-20), and only DT Daron Payne is still on the roster. He's preparing to enter another contract season, and he's the player offenses will still be focusing on in the middle of the line this season.
Our top 10:Sonny Styles | Leo Chenal | Chig Okonwko | Nick Cross | Sam Cosmi
Daron Payne was a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he was paired with his former Alabama teammate Jonathan Allen, drafted the year before, to form the 'Alabama Wall'. Payne is entering his 9th season in the NFL, and he just turned 29. He's also entering the third contract year of his career, and will be looking for another pay day here, or elsewhere after the season.
Why Daron Payne is ranked No. 5Daron Payne starts off our Top 5 for the Commanders and his performance in a contract year will be a key factor in this season's outcome. If he repeats his Pro Bowl-level play from 2022(11.5 sacks, 20 QB hits), Washington's new defense should be a plus factor in a playoff run. If Washington's season looks like 2025, he could be on the trade block as a key addition for a contender. Payne has been an underrated piece of Washington's defense, and he will get another chance to shine in new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' scheme.
What he has doneDaron Payne is the longest-tenured member of Washington's defense, and has accumulated 37 sacks, 432 tackles, 81 QB hits, 65 TFLs, and 25 passes defended over 8 seasons. He has started every regular season game in 6 of his 8 seasons, and has been a disruptive factor in many of them.
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | IntTD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | FRTD | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sfty | AV | Awards |
| 2018 | 21 | WAS | NFL | NT | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 5.0 | 56 | 35 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
| 2019 | 22 | WAS | NFL | NT | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 56 | 32 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2020 | 23 | WAS | NFL | LDT | 16 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 54 | 27 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 10 | |
| 2021 | 24 | WAS | NFL | RDT | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4.5 | 61 | 35 | 26 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 25 | WAS | NFL | LDT | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.5 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 18 | 20 | 1 | 13 | PB |
| 2023 | 26 | WAS | NFL | DT | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 53 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 7 | |
| 2024 | 27 | WAS | NFL | RDT | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 42 | 22 | 20 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
| 2025 | 28 | WAS | NFL | DT | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 46 | 20 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 5 | |
| 8 Yrs | 130 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 37.0 | 432 | 235 | 197 | 65 | 81 | 2 | 61 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.8 | 56 | 31 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
Generated 6/24/2026.Whathe'lldo next
The Washington Commanders are entering the third year of the Adam Peters/Dan Quinn/Jayden Daniels era under managing partner Josh Harris. Daron Payne enters the final year of his third NFL contract, and he will be motivated to have another career year. Daronte Jones has taken over the defense from Joe Whitt Jr/Dan Quinn, and he's expected to implement a scheme that attacks more and takes advantage of Payne's strengths.
.@Raiders@Commanders DT; Daron Payne, was everywhere Sunday being a Royal Pain to the #RaiderNation Offense #BaldysBreakdownspic.twitter.com/j3rPREJv7v
- Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 22, 2025
.@Raiders@Commanders@GenoSmith3 WARNING to all QB's. Stay out of the danger zone...you will get smacked! Hello Daron Payne. Played great in all phases. #BaldysBreakdownspic.twitter.com/3NUu8Z5ggP
- Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 22, 2025