Commanders and Terry McLaurin Reach Million-Dollar Agreement
The Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension, potentially worth up to $96 million. This agreement ends McLaurin’s holdout and secures his participation in the regular season opener against the Giants.
According to sources close to the matter, McLaurin will receive a $30 million signing bonus as part of the agreement.
Negotiations between McLaurin and the Commanders’ management had been tense at the start of the offseason due to the player’s valuation. With this agreement, the Commanders ensure the continuity of their most consistent offensive player since he was selected in the third round of the draft in 2019.
McLaurin, after his second Pro Bowl appearance, has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for five consecutive seasons.
The player was expecting a quick extension, but this did not happen, which generated frustration, expressed in a press conference on July 15. Subsequently, he did not show up for camp and was fined for missing the first four days, accumulating $200,000 in fines. In addition, he had already been fined $104,768 for missing the mandatory three-day minicamp in June.
After reporting, McLaurin was placed on the physically unable to play list due to an ankle injury that, according to the team, he suffered at the end of the season. Although he was able to participate in voluntary workouts in the spring, he missed OTA practices and minicamp. He was activated from the PUP list on August 16.
On July 31, McLaurin requested a trade, but Washington did not consider this option.
According to multiple reports, Steelers receiver D.K. Metcalf was mentioned as a reference for McLaurin’s aspirations. The Steelers, after acquiring Metcalf, offered him a four-year contract worth $33 million annually and $60 million guaranteed.
McLaurin’s age was an important factor for Washington. He will turn 31 when the extension begins, an age at which receivers usually experience a decline in their performance. The Commanders base much of their decisions on data analysis. Among the 24 active receivers with the largest financial guarantees, only one, Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins, was 30 or older when he signed his contract.
Team sources indicated that Washington also wanted to avoid the precedent of what they considered an excessive payment to retain a player, as several key players are awaiting expensive extensions or new deals next offseason: Laremy Tunsil, Frankie Luvu, and potentially Marshon Lattimore and Deebo Samuel.
By retaining McLaurin beyond this season, they give Jayden Daniels, the quarterback, his favorite target for the start of the season. Both players developed a strong connection in camp last season, which extended to 2024, where McLaurin finished with 82 receptions for 1,096 yards. His 13 touchdowns were only one less than the combined total of the previous three years.
Daniels had a total quarterback rating of 90.6 (out of 100) when throwing to McLaurin. Of his 12 passes that gained 30 or more yards by receivers, six were to McLaurin.
