Last season, all of the years of dysfunction and losing paid off for Washington Commanders star WR Terry McLaurin.
After getting drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, McLaurin has come to work every day, never complained and found a way to produce at a high level despite a carousel of below-average quarterbacks and constant distractions around him.
The former Ohio State WR has surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in five out of his six NFL seasons so far, with the only exception coming in his rookie campaign where he posted 919 yards in his first NFL season.
But finally, after being one of the faces for one of the worst teams in the NFL, McLaurin got to taste success last season as he helped the Washington Commanders cruise to a (12-5) finish in the regular season and reach a NFC Championship game for the first time since 1991.
With Jayden Daniels as his QB, “Scary Terry” posted one of his best NFL seasons with 1,096 receiving yards and an eye-popping 13 touchdowns.
The future looks brighter than ever in Washington D.C., and most Commanders fans believe McLaurin is absolutely part of the plan moving forward. So it hasn’t rung alarms that Washington’s star WR hasn’t been present for voluntary OTA’s as his agent attempts to negotiate a new contract for McLaurin.
The Commanders WR is entering the final year of a three-year extension he was given back in 2022 worth $68 million.
While just about everyone who follows the Commanders believes the team will reach an extension with McLaurin and this will be a non-story very soon, David Latham of Last Word on Sports proposed another scenario:
Now entering the final year of his contract, Terry McLaurin wants a new deal and is willing to skip OTA’s while negotiating for an extension. McLaurin is a great player and Washington could win a Super Bowl with Daniels, so it’s probably just a matter of time before the two sides come to terms on a long-term deal. However, if extension talks go south, the Commanders could cash out and sell the wide receiver to the highest bidder. Even though he is entering his age-30 season, several teams should be willing to roll the dice on McLaurin.
Latham then threw out the New England Patriots as a potential trade parter for the Commanders and McLaurin:
The New England Patriots have an army of depth wide receivers but lack a true difference-making threat. The team signed Stefon Diggs to potentially provide that boost to the offense, but he’s injured, on the wrong side of 30, and enjoying the summer a little too much. Terry McLaurin is a better option at this stage in their respective careers, and New England has the money to give him whatever type of contract he desires. Franchise quarterback Drake Maye needs a legitimate WR1, and McLaurin could provide that stability.