ESPN analyst gives candid take on Commanders, Terry McLaurin standoff

Eduardo Razo

ESPN analyst gives candid take on Commanders, Terry McLaurin standoff image

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The Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin have yet to agree on a contract extension. Even though he was Jayden Daniels’ top target last season, McLaurin is now entering the final year of his deal, which one ESPN NFL analyst finds puzzling.

On Thursday's edition of "Get Up," Marcus Spears went after the Commanders' front office for their inability to secure a long-term agreement with Terry McLaurin.

"It's one of the stupidest things that I've seen this offseason," Spears said. "It just seems like it makes all the sense in the world. Jayden Daniels still on a rookie contract. You let some big-time contracts go that you had with some D-lineman, Jonathan Allen. This team showed you what they potentially could be last year. And this is the window."

Moreover, Spears doesn't understand why the Commanders aren't extending McLaurin to take advantage of Daniels being on a rookie contract and not needing to pay him significant money for a couple more years.

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"We talk about this all the time," Spears added. "When you don't have to pay your quarterback a quarter of a billion dollars, you go ahead and take care of everyone else around him. Terry McLaurin is absolutely the most important offensive player on this team outside of Jayden Daniels.

"And we're here with a contract dispute three weeks into camp, knowing full well you're going to need this guy to put yourself potentially back in the situation you were in last year."

Last season, McLaurin was Daniels’ favorite target, with the rookie quarterback helping him reach a career-high 13 touchdowns while also registering 1,096 receiving yards. With the chemistry they’ve shown, it’s hard to understand why the team would sideline the franchise quarterback’s go-to receiver.

McLaurin has requested a trade, and it remains to be seen whether the Washington Commanders will honor that request or use it as leverage in contract talks.

Eduardo Razo

Eduardo Razo is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has covered teams for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Bay Area. Eduardo also previously served as an editor at Athlon Sports.