For the first 12 of the 14 days during which NFL teams can use their franchise tag for the 2023 season, only one did. Washington tagged defensive tackle Daron Payne on Feb. 28 “to let them know that we are serious about getting this done,” Commanders coach Ron Rivera said.

Payne and his agents are “them.” A long-term contract is “this.”

MORE NFL:

· JOSH JACOBS GETS WHAT HE DIDN’T WANT FROM RAIDERS

· PHILIP RIVERS ON A POSSIBLE COMEBACK: ‘I THINK THAT SHIP HAS SAILED’

· WOULD THE TENNESSEE TITANS TRADE DERRICK HENRY?

The franchise tag allows a team to keep a player from entering free agency without reaching a contract agreement with him while extending for four months the time available to get a new deal done.

Without the franchise tag or a contract extension, Payne would have become an unrestricted free agent on March 15. By tagging Payne, Washington guarantees the former Shades Valley High School and Alabama standout a salary of $18.9 million for the 2023 season if the Commanders and Payne’s representatives can’t work out a new contract by July 17.

During an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Rivera said Washington wants to get a deal done to keep Payne with the Commanders in 2023 and beyond.

“We want him to know that we’re serious about it,” Rivera said. “We got a lot of respect for who he is as football player and as a young man. He’s the kind of guy we’d like to have stay with us and be part of what we’re trying to do.”

A Pro Bowl pick in his fifth NFL season, Payne reached career highs with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits. Payne led NFL defensive interior linemen in tackles for loss and NFC defensive interior linemen in sacks this season. He played 87 percent of the Commanders’ defensive snaps, the highest rate for an interior lineman in the NFL in 2022.

RELATED: MEET THE 2022 NFL ALL-STATE TEAM FOR ALABAMA

Payne joined Washington as the 13th selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has missed one game in five seasons.

In 81 NFL regular-season games, Payne has 291 tackles, 26 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 55 quarterback hits, 14 pass break-ups, one interception, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one safety.

The Commanders used their non-exclusive tag on Payne. Other NFL teams can talk to Payne’s representatives about signing the defensive tackle, but even if another club reaches a contract agreement with him, Washington would have the choice of matching it or receiving two first-round draft picks in exchange for Payne leaving.

The deadline for NFL teams to use the franchise tag for 2023 arrives at 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.