Commanders Franchise Tag on DT Daron Payne

As the Washington Commanders continue to improve their roster for 2022, they've placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne.

The deadline to use the franchise tag comes on Mar. 7, just a little over a week before the start of free agency, but the Commanders decided to make it official on Tuesday.

This means Payne can sign a fully guaranteed one-year contract worth $18.937 million for the 2023 season.

Or... 

He can also negotiate a long-term deal with the Commanders or with other teams. If he signs with another team, Washington would receive two first-round picks or work out a trade with Payne's new team.

Payne ranks No. 6 on Pro Football Talk's Top 100 free agents, sitting behind quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens), Derek Carr (Las Vegas Raiders), Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks), Daniel Jones (New York Giants) and fellow defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (Philadelphia Eagles).

Payne, the 13th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, is the first player in the NFL to receive any franchise tag designation this offseason. He's shown tremendous durability in his short career, missing just one game in his five seasons, and was named to his first Pro Bowl last year.

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