Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne wanted to get a new contract with the Commanders last offseason.

Washington had exercised its option for a fifth season on Payne’s rookie contract, which paid the former Shades Valley High School and Alabama standout $8.529 million for the 2022 campaign. But Payne hoped the Commanders would follow the pattern established with another former Crimson Tide defensive lineman. In 2021, Washington had Jonathan Allen lined up to play on the fifth-year option. But just before training camp, Allen signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension.

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That didn’t happen for Payne, but he didn’t pout or become a distraction. Instead, he had the best season of his NFL career, and on Monday, he signed a contract extension with the Commanders — $90 million for four seasons. The contract includes $60.02 million in total guarantees and a $28 million signing bonus.

Payne’s deal is the second-largest for a defensive tackle in NFL history, behind the three-year contract extension worth $95 million signed by three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

“It actually hasn’t hit me yet,” Payne said on Monday. “Probably when I see the change in my bank account it’ll probably settle in. It’s definitely a blessing, man. Like me, I’m big on memories. I always dream about all the fun we had playing high school football and training with the guys, so just to see how far I came, it means a bunch to me.”

Payne said he didn’t have any intention of being a problem when he didn’t get what he wanted last season.

“I wanted to just go out there and ball and show the team what I could do,” Payne said, “and I just put my best foot forward and went out there and had a whole bunch of fun. Now I’m in this position that I am. …

“I wanted to be here for the team. I wanted to be around the guys and do all the stuff with the team. It’s what I like to do. I like playing football, I like being around the guys, I like making memories and just going out there and competing with them.”

Payne reached career highs with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits in 2022. He led NFL defensive interior linemen in tackles for loss and NFC defensive interior linemen in sacks this season.

Payne played 87 percent of the Commanders’ defensive snaps, the highest rate for an interior lineman in the NFL in 2022.

“May have been the best time I’ve had playing football,” Payne said. “I was just really out there trying to one-up myself every game and have as much fun as I could.”

Washington has a 32-49-1 record and has participated in the playoffs once during Payne’s five seasons. But he said he wanted to stay with the Commanders because he thinks they’re going to contenders.

“I know we got a bunch of young talent on our team,” Payne said, “and we’re always just one little piece away from being good, so, hopefully, we can put together some pieces and make a run.”

Washington used its franchise tag on Payne on Feb. 28, so he was never going to reach free agency this offseason. But by getting the contract extension done so quicky, Payne can look forward to an eighth season – between the Crimson Tide and the Commanders – with Allen as his teammate. In 2022, both defensive tackles were picked for the Pro Bowl.

“We work so well together,” Payne said. “They been playing highlight tapes around here all day, and, like, I can see him looking at me. When I make moves, he’s looking to work off me, and I always look to work off him, so it’s just fun to be able to go out there and let loose knowing that somebody’s got your back and you can just play without thinking.”

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