Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is the epitome of what loyalty looks like. Three players have been with the Commanders longer than McLaurin: Punter Tress Way, defensive tackle Daron Payne, and safety Jeremy Reaves. If Jonathan Allen were still with the team, he would have been included in this list, but he departed this offseason.
The players who have endured since 2019 have seen a lot happen within the organization: scandals, name changes, coaching changes, and an ownership change. Not only did McLaurin (and the rest) survive this era, but he managed to record five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His contract expires at the end of the 2025 season, but he wants a new deal done now, and he’s skipping OTAs to make his point.
The biggest question about McLaurin’s holdout is whether we should be concerned. Should we panic? Or is there still time? CBS Sports puts the panic meter at low.
This might be the most head-scratching holdout of the bunch. McLaurin has been one of the faces of the Commanders organization through some trying times and has been a highly productive player despite lackluster play at quarterback. When McLaurin and the Commanders finally secured an elite, young quarterback in Jayden Daniels, the veteran wideout put together arguably the best season of his career. His 13 touchdowns and 70.1% catch rate were the highest of his career, and he was a key cog in Washington reaching the NFC Championship in 2024. So, why are the Commanders fussing around with the contract, especially when they have the cap space and a quarterback playing on his rookie deal?
It’s worth pointing out that McLaurin also skipped OTAs and minicamp during the 2022 offseason before signing his three-year, $71 million contract extension, so there is precedent for this situation and everyone landing on their feet.
The wide receiver market has ballooned to where the elite pass catchers — like McLaurin — are in the $30 million-per-year range, with Ja’Marr Chase at the top of the list with a $40.25 million in AAV. McLaurin, while older, could be looking at a deal similar to DK Metcalf, who inked an extension with the Steelers this offseason that pays him about $33 million annually. That’s a hefty price, but the Commanders have broken open into a Super Bowl window with Daniels, and they’d be wise to pay his go-to target.
The bottom line with McLaurin is that he wants to stay in Washington, and the Commanders want to keep him. When both sides truly want the same thing, they are bound to find common ground. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ McLaurin gets a new deal, it’s a matter of ‘when’ and ‘how much’ and how it’s structured. There’s no way the Commanders allow Jayden Daniels’ favorite target to go somewhere else, so anticipate a deal getting done this summer.
