Terry McLaurin was an integral piece of the Washington Commanders turnaround in 2024. Washington went from picking second in the 2024 NFL Draft to appearing in the NFC Championship Game on the back of McLaurin and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Despite the good vibes from last season, McLaurin has chosen to skip the team’s mandatory minicamp due to an ongoing issue he has with the team.
Terry McLaurin Absent From Mandatory Minicamp Due To Contract Frustration
McLaurin has spent his entire NFL career with Washington after being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The receiver has gained over 1,000 yards each of the last five years. He also made the Pro Bowl and the second-team All-Pro list last season after posting 82 receptions, 1,096 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
Washington’s offense ranked 6th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, and McLaurin was a critical piece to Daniels’ stellar rookie campaign. McLaurin is the Commanders’ leader, and he wants to be recognized as such with a new contract.
He’s entering the final year of a three-year, $68.2 million extension he signed in 2022, and negotiations haven’t been going well. McLaurin is exercising the only leverage he has by not showing up to the team’s mandatory minicamp.
FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz gave an update on McLaurin as the Commanders wrapped up their final week of OTAs.
Schultz posted on X, “Sources: #Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin has made it clear to the team that he’s frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal.
Sources: #Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin has made it clear to the team that he’s frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal. As I previously reported, McLaurin unexpectedly left voluntary workouts after initially attending, and it remains to be seen whether… pic.twitter.com/5lUXbe8dxe
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 5, 2025
Later in his post, Schultz detailed how McLaurin initially attended voluntary workouts, but eventually left voluntarily. McLaurin has carried that strategy into mandatory minicamp, as he has not shown up, per reporters, including Schultz.
McLaurin is saving himself from any potential injury by sitting out minicamp, but his absence doesn’t bode well for Washington heading into the summer.
Is Deebo Samuel Influencing McLaurin’s Minicamp Absence?
McLaurin was Washington’s leading receiver last season by a wide margin. Tight end Zach Ertz was second on the team with 654 yards, and McLaurin’s total of 1,096 yards more than doubled Olamide Zaccheaus’ 506 yards. He was Daniels’ bona fide No. 1 option last season.
Washington decided to bolster the wide receiver depth by trading for Deebo Samuel this offseason.
The former San Francisco 49ers receiver has one year left on a three-year extension he signed in 2022. The Commanders will owe Samuel just $5.15 million this year. However, the Commanders may prefer to give a big extension to Samuel over McLaurin.
McLaurin is slightly older than Samuel, but both receivers were part of the 2019 NFL Draft. The pair would create one of the more dangerous and versatile receiving duos in the NFL, but the team needs to get McLaurin’s contract situation figured out before seeing them on the field together.
