ScoutIndex

WAS WAS

Daron Payne

NT

Daron Payne came into the league as a 1st-round selection (13th overall) in 2018, drafted out of Alabama. Now with WAS, he's in his 9th NFL season. By ScoutIndex Rating he was one of the top DEFs in football last season, scoring a 67.3 (88th percentile).

Size

6'3", 320#

College

Alabama

Draft

Rd 1, 13th overall (2018)

Seasons

2018–2026

2026 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
54

67th percentile among DEFs · limited sample

5 games

Splash plays×0.15+1.16
Pass rush×0.3+0.29
Ball skills×0.25-0.60
Run defense×0.2-0.07
Availability×0.1+0.54

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026WAS545
2025WAS67.314
2024WAS56.415
2023WAS73.217
2022WAS91.217
2021WAS57.417
2020WAS70.216
2019WAS49.815
2018WAS62.316

Career profile

Across 9 NFL seasons on file, Daron Payne has played in 132 regular-season games, all with WAS.

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2022: a 91.2, in the 98th percentile among DEFs that year.

2026 splits

regular season

2026 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1PHI—41.2
Week 2DAL—40.6
Week 3SEA—40.4
Week 4IND—41.5
Week 5NYG—84.6

Daron Payne — common questions

What position does Daron Payne play?
Daron Payne is listed as an NT.
Which teams has Daron Payne played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Daron Payne has played for WAS (2018–2026).
Where did Daron Payne go to college?
Daron Payne played college football at Alabama.
When was Daron Payne drafted?
Daron Payne was selected in round 1, 13th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has Daron Payne scored?
Daron Payne has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is Daron Payne's ScoutIndex Rating?
Daron Payne rated 54.0 for 2026, the 67th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 1, 2018

Also from Alabama