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Commanders' latest roster news could affect Daron Payne trade

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Commanders' latest roster news could affect Daron Payne trade

Originally posted on Lindy's Sports | By Tony Owusu | Last updated Oct 29, 2026 9:03 AM ET

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On Wednesday, Oct. 28 the Washington Commanders announced that they are designating third-year defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton to return to practice, starting his 21-day window where the team can add him back to the active roster. The move could have big implications for fellow tackle Daron Payne, whose name has been popping up in trade rumors ahead of the deadline.

Newton has been out since he suffered his injury in the first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. He tore his pectoral muscle and underwent surgery five days later. Nearly three months after that, Newton is on the cusp of making his return to a defense that could use as much help as it can get.

The interior defensive line was supposed to be one of the team’s strengths coming into this season thanks to the depth it had. But now, with the season hanging on the brink, the Commanders could look to use that depth to start building for the future.

Daron Payne trade rumors swirl

Daron Payne’s name has been popping up in trade talks since the summer. Payne is in the final year of a four-year, $90 million deal he signed in 2023. His base salary of $16.4 million this year, according to Spotrac, shouldn’t be hard to move.

The ninth-year veteran has played in 74% of the Commanders’ defensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Reference, which is the highest rate he’s played since 2023. He’s having a better year than he has recently in a number of categories.

Payne has four QB hurries, four knock downs, and nine pressures in six games. He had two, four, and nine, respectively, last season in 15 games. He has five QB hits and 1 sack on the season.

Payne was sixth on ESPN’s recent list of 25 players who could be traded before the Nov. 10 deadline, though they only put his chances of being traded at just 25%.

Daron Payne’s name has been popping up in trade rumors as the Commanders fight for their season.DeFodi Images / Getty Images

The Commanders may not be sellers

Normally, if you have just one win through the first seven weeks of the season then your team is a bona fide seller. But very little is normal about the NFC East in 2026.

At 1-4-1, the Commanders are just 2.5 games behind the division-leading New York Giants who are 4-2-1 and there’s still a lot of football left to be played. Coming out of their bye week, head coach Dan Quinn seemed confident about his team’s chances of turning their season around.

“We know the plan, now we’ve got to go do it,” Quinn said as his team prepares to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. “Belief is really powerful. Knowing that you’re capable of doing these things. And so, my belief in them as a group is really strong.”

But the Commanders’ defensive line hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. Despite depth and talent, they’re ranked 22nd in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN Analytics, and 23rd in run stop win rate.

The team signed Tim Settle in the offseason to add to an interior defensive line that already had Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Newton. That depth has come in handy as Kinlaw has missed time recently and Newton hasn’t played all season.

But now that Newton is coming back, the Commanders’ interior is inching that much closer to being back to full strength.

Could that make Payne more expendable? Sounds like the team still believes in its chances of winning the division and making the playoffs. So as long as they still have that belief, Payne probably isn’t going anywhere.

But if they lose on Monday night to the Eagles, that all but guarantees that this season is over, and it’s time to start planning for the future. Should they lose and decide to trade Payne, at the very least, they’ll have another body in Newton ready to take his place.

This article first appeared on Lindy's Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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