Daron Payne arrived in Dallas with a chance to make a statement, and instead left the Commanders with more questions than answers.
In Washington’s Week 2 loss to the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Payne was supposed to be the disruptive force up front. Instead, he rarely found his way into the game. He didn’t do much against an injury-hit offensive line, looked soft versus the run, and never generated enough push to bother Dak Prescott.
That kind of night is a problem for a player who wants elite money at his position. Payne is supposed to be one of the anchors of this defense, but he isn’t giving Washington that kind of return when it matters most. The Commanders are feeling the fallout all over the field.
The front office spent heavily to reshape a defense that needed help, with general manager Adam Peters pouring much of that investment into edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson. Both were brought in to serve as the bookends in Daronte Jones’ 3-4 front, but the plan only works if the players inside can draw attention and make life easier for everyone else.
That’s where Payne was supposed to come in. Instead, Washington is getting the opposite.
Oweh and Chaisson both have histories that show what happens when pass rushers are surrounded by talent. Chaisson’s breakout 2025 season with the New England Patriots included 10.5 sacks, a jump made possible by the presence of Christian Barmore and Milton Williams. Oweh followed a similar path after being traded from the Baltimore Ravens to the Los Angeles Chargers last October, then putting up 10.5 sacks in 13 games, including the playoffs, while playing next to Khalil Mack, Teair Tart and Da'Shawn Hand.
Payne is supposed to be the piece that helps set that table for Washington.
Instead, his inconsistency is leaving the Commanders short up front and putting even more strain on a secondary that was already getting exposed by Prescott and the Cowboys’ receivers. With too little pressure coming from the line, the coverage issues behind it kept showing up.
There was also an effort concern that made the night look even worse. Payne drew criticism on social media after an attempt to chase down Prescott on the Cowboys’ opening drive.
That moment stood out, but it was far from the only issue. Most of his 37 snaps came after that, and he still failed to make much of an impact, even with Dallas missing injured three-time Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith.
The 2018 first-round pick from Alabama was even outshined by Javon Kinlaw before Kinlaw exited with a shoulder injury, which only deepened Washington’s reliance on Payne.
Dallas was the kind of stage where Payne could have reminded everyone why his name carries weight. Instead, he delivered another reminder of why the Commanders have every reason to hesitate before paying him like a star.
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