Commanders $90 million starter listed among Packers’ top trade targets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Green Bay Packers were able to make a big splash by acquiring Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, they also subtracted Kenny Clark.
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Clark’s absence from the interior of the defensive line was noticeable, especially in the pass-rush, and the Packers should make finding help up the middle a point of emphasis this offseason.
With that goal in mind, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine dubbed Washington Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne as a top trade target for Green Bay.
“The Commanders have a logjam of talent on the interior of the defensive line and extending Payne could be difficult,” Ballentine wrote. “That could open the door for the Packers to get the interior disruptor who could take their defensive front to the next level.”
To be clear, there hasn’t been any indication the Commanders are interested in trading Payne, but there’s reason to believe it’s possible.
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Payne is entering the final year of his $90 million contract and Washington has Javon Kinlaw under contract and Jer’Zhan Newton as a replacement option, so it’s conceivable the Commanders could opt to trade Payne.
Not only would Payne provide a boost to the Packers’ run defense, which ranked 18th last season, he’s also a plus pass-rusher who can disrupt things up the middle.
Assuming he can get healthy and return to his 2025 form, pairing Devonte Wyatt with Payne could give Green Bay one of the best one-two punches on the interior in the NFL.
Given their win-now situation, the Packers need to keep going all in to try and cash in on their Super Bowl window. Acquiring Payne would be a good way to go about that.
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