Da'Ron Payne, Redskins Reportedly Agree to Rookie Contract

Washington and defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne agreed to a rookie-scale contract Thursday, making him the first first-round pick player to sign a deal in the 2018 class. 

Payne, who was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in April's draft, will be under contract for four years—all guaranteed. Washington will then have a fifth-year option it will have to decide on exercising before his fourth season; that year is guaranteed for injury only. 

Payne is slated to be Washington's starting nose tackle in 2018. Washington coach Jay Gruden said he also expects the versatile defensive lineman to play other positions.

"Yeah, we will start him at nose and see how it goes," Gruden told reporters. "But like I said, when teams move their tight ends and nose will shift to three-technique and three-technique will shift to nose. I think he is very versatile and at Alabama he's played directly over the nose and center, he's played the shade, the three. He's played a little bit of everything. He's a very smart player and we had the chance to interview him and we had the chance to meet him at one of the visits that we had him here. Just a great guy.

"He's got great leadership capabilities, very smart, knows what the entire defensive line is doing and if you watch him on tape, you can see that he never gets out of his gap."

Payne earned first team All-SEC honors in 2017, to go along with co-MVP selections in the 2018 Sugar Bowl and 2018 National Championship Game. He recorded 53 tackles and one sack during his junior season, emerging as an anchor on Alabama's front seven.

Washington has drafted linemen from Alabama in the last two drafts. The team selected Jonathan Allen with the 17th overall pick in 2017. Allen and Payne were anchors for the Tide together in 2015 and 2016.