Commanders insider confirms what fans sensed all along about Daron Payne’s new edge

The Washington Commanders have issued a challenge to Daron Payne this offseason. He's accepted it and is thriving.

There is no Jonathan Allen to depend upon for the first time in years. Payne doesn't have his security blanket, and there is no top dog in the defensive tackle room anymore. That task falls on him to step up and lead from the front. Something that could earn the former first-round pick another bumper payday if everything goes well.

Praise has been glowing around Payne this offseason. He's energized and ready to emerge from Allen's shadow. There's a different aura around the Alabama product these days, and he's started to act like one of the senior figures rather than doing the bare minimum.

Commanders saw a more vibrant Daron Payne over offseason program

This is the exact response Washington was hoping for. John Keim from ESPN echoed these sentiments, claiming there has been a more outgoing persona associated with Payne over the Commanders' offseason program compared to previous years.

[Daron] Payne has one year left on his contract and would count $28 million on the cap in 2026. However, they could save $16.8 million in cap space if they released him after the season. Payne's contract was an issue in 2022, but he recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks and earned a four-year extension worth up to $90 million. He has a combined eight sacks the last two seasons. However, the Commanders privately and publicly have lauded his offseason. Multiple people in the organization singled him out during OTA work, also saying he appears more relaxed and a little more outgoing.John Keim

Allen was a big personality — a true alpha in every sense of the term. Payne and everyone else took a back seat to his domineering approach. He's now on the Minnesota Vikings, which leaves a gaping hole that must be filled.

Payne is getting out of his comfort zone. He's exuding confidence and is more willing to go the extra mile, helping his teammates reach new heights along the way. That doesn't always guarantee success, but it's not a bad place to start by any stretch of the imagination.

It remains a precarious situation for Payne, who's the team's highest salary cap hit this season at $26.17 million. The production hasn't matched the hefty contract extension he received after his Pro Bowl campaign in 2022, but all hope is not lost just yet.

If Payne keeps up this new, positive mindset, the Commanders will be in a good spot. And who knows, perhaps the interior force might not be the lost cause most perceived after all.