Daron Payne emerges from Jonathan Allen’s shadow in dominant fashion

Entering the season, one of the biggest Washington Commanders storylines to monitor in Washington was how the defensive line would step up after some notable offseason changes. Veteran Jonathan Allen is out the door, replaced by Javon Kinlaw at great expense in free agency.

But it was one of the team's longest-serving players who had the most to gain from Allen's departure.

Allen's longtime running mate, Daron Payne, is still here. He has become somewhat of a forgotten man in Washington, following a down season in 2024. He's under significant pressure to return to his Pro Bowl form.

And in Week 1, he's hit the ground running.

Daron Payne registers first-half sack, constant pressure against the Giants

Payne was visible early and often against the Giants, accounting for a third-down tackle on New York's opening drive that forced a punt. He continued to generate pressure throughout the first half, and finally, he took down Russell Wilson late in the second quarter to register Washington's first sack of 2025.

The Commanders' defensive line has been viewed as an area of concern all offseason, with Payne and Kinlaw both facing criticism due to their hefty contracts. Dorance Armstrong Jr. also struggled to make an impact in his first season with Washington in 2024, and longtime New England Patriot Deatrich Wise Jr. was not a signing that moved the needle.

But this can be a productive unit if everyone performs to the best of their capabilities, and the Commanders are off to a promising start. Payne, having been in Washington since he was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, will specifically need to take on a greater leadership role after Allen's departure.

Everyone in Washington knows it's put up or shut up this season for the former Alabama standout. So far, he's putting up.