McLaurin Secures His Future with the Commanders: Who Are the Real Winners?
After the announcement of the contract extension for Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, the question that resonated was: Who emerged victorious from this negotiation? While there is debate over who conceded or not in the negotiations, the real beneficiaries of Monday’s agreement are quarterback Jayden Daniels, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end Zach Ertz, and the rest of the team. McLaurin has become the “heart” of the offense, bringing energy and passion to the team, and being voted captain on several occasions. The real economic impact of McLaurin’s new contract will be known once the three-year extension is presented to the league. For now, it is known that McLaurin will receive an attractive average annual salary and the contract could reach up to $96 million in three years, according to sources close to him. Determining who “won” or “lost” in this situation is premature and irrelevant. The important thing is that Washington can face its first game on September 7 against the New York Giants with optimism and with its best receiver on the team. McLaurin’s contract situation had dominated the headlines, starting with his frustration expressed in a press conference and his absence from training. Meanwhile, in the field, frustration grew among the offensive members. Kingsbury expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance on August 15th. The Commanders finished fifth in points and seventh in yards last season, but their summer was uneven. Daniels, Samuel, and Ertz seemed to be in shape, but Kingsbury knew what was missing: McLaurin.McLaurin’s return to the field reduces the pressure on Washington’s other offensive weapons. Samuel will have more space to operate, allowing him to run after the reception and break tackles. Ertz will also be more effective in the middle of the field. The long game also comes into play with McLaurin’s return. Of Daniels’ 46 passes that traveled 20 air yards or more last season, 24 were to McLaurin. Daniels recorded an 88.4 QBR (out of 100) when targeting McLaurin on these routes, with eight receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns. McLaurin is also an offensive catalyst, which is why Washington likes to give him the ball at the beginning of games. When McLaurin caught three or more passes in the first half last season, Washington had a 6-1 record. Throughout his career, Washington has a 21-23-1 record when McLaurin catches three or more passes in the first half. That overall record is why leaving Washington never made sense for McLaurin. He had played with 10 different starting quarterbacks before Daniels arrived. Now, he has a quarterback coming off a historic rookie season with 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 891 rushing yards and six scores. With stability at the quarterback position and a new contract in hand, McLaurin, a figure beloved by the fans and for years the only bright spot in Washington due to his production and professionalism, can now think about retiring as one of the franchise’s most popular players. While declaring a winner in this agreement is important for some, the impact will be felt in the future. Washington was always concerned about setting a precedent with this deal, knowing it had other key players seeking extensions or new deals in 2026, such as Samuel, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, linebacker Frankie Luvu, and possibly cornerback Marshon Lattimore. That’s why the details will ultimately matter to others. Other players on the team were interested in seeing the resolution of McLaurin’s contract, knowing they could be in this position soon. For now, Washington’s energy has returned. And it happened at the right moment.There hasn’t been much contact with him. He’s been here, but he’s been working with trainers, so until he gets back on the field, we’ll start to rebuild that.
Kliff Kingsbury
