The Commanders created more than $9.4 million in cap space over the weekend by turning defensive tackle Daron Payne’s franchise tender into a four-year, $90 million deal.
Here’s a full breakdown of the contract, per a source with knowledge of the terms.
1. Signing bonus: $28 million.
2. 2023 base salary: $2.51 million, fully guaranteed.
3. 2023 workout bonus: $500,000, fully guaranteed.
3. 2024 base salary: $15 million, fully guaranteed.
4. 2024 per-game roster bonus: $30,000 per game, up to $510,000. Guaranteed for injury at signing.
5. 2024 workout bonus: $500,000, guaranteed for injury at signing.
6. 2025 base salary: $19.56 million, $13 million of which is guaranteed at signing and $9 million of which becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2024 league year. Another $5 million becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year.
7. 2025 per-game roster bonus: $30,000 per game, up to $510,000.
8. 2025 workout bonus: $500,000.
9. 2026 offseason roster bonus: $5 million.
10. 2026 base salary: $16.4 million.
11. 2026 per-game roster bonus: $30,000 per game, up to $510,000.
12. 2026 workout bonus: $500,000.
The deal has $46.01 million fully guaranteed at signing. Another $9 million vests in 2024, pushing the practical guarantee to $55.01 million.
So it’s a firm two-year deal, with $9 million in full guarantees for year three. That makes the third year likely to be honored, with the final year a team option.
The placement of the $5 million offseason roster bonus in 2026 forces the team to make an early decision as to whether Payne will remain on the roster for the fourth and final year.
