in the
2020–21 Wild Card Playoff game Payne was selected by the
Washington Redskins in the first round (13th overall) of the
2018 NFL draft. On May 10, 2018, Payne signed a four-year contract worth 14.4 million featuring a $8.56 million signing bonus. He recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the
Green Bay Packers. He finished his rookie season with 56 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and was named to the 2018
PFWA All-Rookie Team as a result. In the 2019 season, Payne had two sacks, 56 total tackles (32 solo), and two passes defended. In Week 14 of the
2020 season against the
San Francisco 49ers, Payne forced a fumble on quarterback
Nick Mullens, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by
Chase Young and would also recover a forced fumble by Young. In Week 15 against the
Seattle Seahawks, Payne recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by
Russell Wilson during the 20–15 loss. Payne finished the 2020 NFL season playing 880 snaps and recording 54 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception. He also recorded two sacks against
Tom Brady and the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The team exercised the fifth-year option on Payne's contract on April 27, 2021, which guarantees a salary of $8.529 million for the 2022 season. He was added to the
COVID-19 reserve list on August 1, 2021, before being re-activated on August 5. Payne and defensive end
James Smith-Williams sealed the Week 11 win over the
Carolina Panthers after they sacked quarterback
Cam Newton on fourth down with less than a minute and a half left in the game. In the 2021 season, Payne had 4.5 sacks, 61 total tackles (35 solo), and one fumble recovery. By Week 9 of the 2022 season, Payne accumulated a new career-high of 5.5 sacks. With 58 seconds remaining in the Week 12 game against the
Atlanta Falcons, he deflected a touchdown pass attempt from
Marcus Mariota which cornerback
Kendall Fuller intercepted in the end zone in a 19–13 win. He finished the season having set new career highs with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five pass deflections. In January 2023, Payne was named as a replacement player for
Aaron Donald to the
2023 Pro Bowl, his first Pro Bowl. The Commanders placed a non-exclusive
franchise tag on Payne before him signing a four-year, $90 million extension with the team on March 13, 2023. He finished the 2023 season with four sacks, 53 total tackles (32 solo), four passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Payne finished the 2024 regular season with 42 tackles, four sacks, and two pass deflections over 17 games. In his second playoff appearance, Payne dislocated his thumb in the
2024–25 Wild Card round win over the Buccaneers. Despite the injury, he would play the following week in the win over the
Detroit Lions but was ruled out of the
NFC Championship Game due to injuries with his thumb and knee. In the debut game of the 2025 season, Payne had a strong performance against the
New York Giants with five total tackles, two passes deflections, and one sack. In Week 10, Payne was ejected from the game against the
Detroit Lions after punching
Amon-Ra St. Brown. Following the game, it was revealed Payne had retaliated against St. Brown, who had punched Payne in the head a few plays earlier and was not ejected despite an
official witnessing the strike by St. Brown. On November 10, 2025, the NFL suspended Payne for one game without pay as punishment for the altercation with St. Brown which was met with criticism due to St. Brown only being issued a fine by the league for same offense. He finished the 2025 season with three sacks, 46 total tackles (20 solo), and five passes defended. == Career statistics ==