Commanders first-round pick showed up to minicamp looking like a different player

Releasing Jonathan Allen was an expected move by the Washington Commanders this offseason. He was the undisputed alpha, but the production no longer matched the price tag.

While he'll be missed off the field, Allen's departure has benefits in more ways than one.

Specifically, it's brought Daron Payne out of his shell.

The Pro Bowl defensive tackle looks like a different player this offseason. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. lauded his impact during early workouts. Payne looks like a player reborn, which is a trend that continued over Washington's mandatory minicamp.

Commanders seeing growth from Daron Payne after Jonathan Allen's release

Payne has transformed his attitude and come out of his comfort zone now that Allen is out of the picture. He's refreshed, refocused, and leading from the front. The former first-round pick is also taking it upon himself to lead from the front, which wasn't always the case previously.

John Keim from ESPN recently hinted that Allen's dominating demeanor, although positive more often than not, left others in the shadows. They were unable to truly express themselves, which could have been the case with Payne, based on how his disposition has completely changed this summer.

This is only going to help the Commanders moving forward. And in a strange way, it's probably what Adam Peters and Quinn were hoping for when Allen was made surplus to requirements.

It's a big year for Payne. He's the team's highest salary-cap hit at $26.17 million. The fact that Washington hasn't restructured his deal again indicates those in power are going to wait for things to play out before deciding on further action. It could be a new contract, or he could be a potential cut candidate in 2026 if performance levels aren't up to the required standard.

The Commanders' defensive line could make or break their chances of going deep into the playoffs next season. Given the significant concerns around the pass-rush, the interior must set the tone. Payne will be at the forefront, and there's a growing belief that the Alabama graduate can return to something like his 2022 form.

Payne is an outstanding player when firing on all cylinders. Perhaps he felt like taking a back seat to Allen was more prudent, but it did nothing to help in the grand scheme of things. That's all changed now, and the Commanders are counting on him more than ever.

He's got the tools to be dominant, everyone associated with the Commanders knows that. This altered approach is a refreshing change of pace — one that could eventually end with Payne reminding the world what a special player he is when competitive action arrives.

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