Daron Payne named to NFL Pro Bowl roster to replace Aaron Donald

Well, Alabama has yet ANOTHER Pro Bowler for the 2022-23 NFL season. With superstar LA Ram Aaron Donald unable to participate in the event, the next man in line is none other than former Crimson Tide and current Washington defensive lineman Daron Payne. According to NFL expert Adam Schefter, Payne is heading to the Pro Bowl in place of one of the NFL’s best.

Here was the report from Schefty, which he posted on Twitter:

“Washington’s Daron Payne was named to the Pro Bowl today to replace Aaron Donald, who told the NFL that he is unable to participate.”

A welcome and deserved honor for Payne, who broke out with by far his best season in 2022 for the Commanders. The big fella totaled a career-high 11.5 sacks to lead the team by a fairly wide margin while more than doubling his previous career-best in that statistic. He also totaled 64 tackles on the season (another career-high!) and almost tripled his previous high in tackles for loss with 18 in 2022 after never finishing with more than seven in his first four seasons.

Just a monstrous year across the board for the former Alabama star. Also, he becomes the 12th Crimson Tide player to make the Pro Bowl this year, joining these other 11:

• Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen
• Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson
• Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs
• Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick
• Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry
• Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey
• Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
• Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs
• New York Jets middle linebacker C.J. Mosley
• Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II

Not a bad look for Nick Saban’s program, huh? Alabama already had enough Pro Bowlers to field an entire side of the field, and now, they make it a dozen with the addition of Daron Payne. A well-earned achievement for the fifth-year DT.