A lot of fanfare surrounded the Washington Redskins 2018 first-round draft selection and for good reason. Former Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne was predicted by many NFL pundits to be good enough to be selected in one of the Top 10 spots. Washington was obviously extremely fortunate when he fell to them at No. 13.
Any draft selection is a gamble. Rankings are out there, experts are generous with their opinions and fans at the actual draft make their approval (or disapproval) known. But when it’s all said and done, no one really knows the level of success any player will have once they get to the NFL until some time has passed.
By all accounts, it appears the Redskins made a good call when they on Payne. The NFL has only just completed Week 2 of the preseason and the rookie has already earned the 12th-highest grade from Pro Football Focus among first-year interior defensive linemen.
Amazingly explosive, incredibly strong, knowledgeable and agile for a big man; Payne’s presence on the interior of Washington’s defensive (besides former Alabama teammate Jon Allen) line has already made an impact. During the team’s second preseason game against the New York Jets, he logged his first NFL sack on the Jets’ starting offenses’ first series. As well, the way he required attention from offensive linemen liberated his defensive teammates to be more effective. OLB Preston Smith also recorded a sack and he, fellow OLB Ryan Kerrigan and the rest of the line hurried rookie QB Sam Darnold consistently.
PFF author Mark Chichester explained his 68.2 preseason grade for Payne as follows:
Payne made his NFL debut last week after missing his team’s preseason opener due to injury. He may have only played 14 snaps on the night, but he immediately made an impact for the team and recorded a sack on one of his nine pass-rushing snaps. He ended his first NFL appearance with a defensive grade of 68.2, the 12th-highest grade among rookie interior defensive linemen.