The Washington Commanders offseason has hit a notable snag, as star wide receiver T͏e͏rry Mc͏Laurin opted not͏ to attend mandatory minicamp.͏ Head coach Da͏n͏ Quin͏n addressed the situation publicly, ͏providing insight into the team’s stance while leaving plenty of questions unanswered͏. ͏
McLauri͏n’s absence is not entirely ͏unexpected, but it signals a ͏pivotal moment in Washington’s͏ locker room and front office dynamics.
Dan Quinn Addresses Terry McLaurin’s Absence Amid Contract Tension
McLaurin’s decision to skip minicamp follows a familiar script. In 2022, he similarly missed organized team activities and mandatory minicamp before securing a three-year, $71 million extension later that summer. League sources confirmed Tuesday that contract frustration is again at the heart of the wideout’s absence.
This time, however, the stakes are higher. McLaurin ͏is coming off the ͏best ͏season of his career, ͏having ͏posted 82 receptions for 1,͏09͏6 yards and͏ ͏13 touchdowns while playing͏ ͏alongside rookie quarterback Jayden͏ Daniels͏. The͏ duo flourished during Washington’s ͏unexpected ͏playoff surge, with McLaurin ͏adding three more touchdowns ͏and 227 yards on 14 postseason catches in the postseason. That effort helped the team reach its first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991.
With his 2022 extension entering its final year, talks of a new deal have intensified. McLaurin’s current annual average value (AAV) of $23.2 million now ranks 16th among NFL wideouts, well behind peers with similar or lesser production. Industry figures point toward a potential new AAV around $30 million, roughly the midpoint between the Pittsburgh Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf ($32.99 million) and Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins ($28.75 million).
Despite McLaurin’s proven leadership and consistent output, age may be a sticking point. He turns 30 in September, making him older than most of the league’s top-paid receivers. Only Tyreek Hill is among the top 15 highest-paid wideouts who is older than McLaurin. That factor could influence Washington’s offer structure.
Dan Quinn on the absence of WR Terry McLaurin:
“Sometimes football and business, they intersect. Terry is a fantastic teammate. … Adam’s crew will work through that.” pic.twitter.com/Yw1OoWekJo
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) June 10, 2025
Still, Quinn struck a measured tone when asked about McLaurin’s absence.
“Sometimes football and business- they intersect,” Quinn said. “Terry is a fantastic teammate.”
Despite McLaurin sitting out, Quinn isn’t too concerned about his relationship and chemistry with Daniels.
“The good news is lots of rapport has been built,” he noted. “This is one of those times. Terry is a fantastic teammate.”
McLaurin did attend earlier phases of voluntary OTAs that did not include on-field activities, but his absence from the full sessions raises concerns about chemistry development moving forward. With training camp looming, the clock is ticking for both sides to reach an agreement.
Adding to the intrigue, Washington traded for Deebo Samuel this offseason to bolster the wide receiver group. Samuel should support McLaurin in the offense, but many are wondering if Washington wants Samuel to replace him next season. That said, no addition this offseason diminished the importance of McLaurin’s presence.
For now, McLaurin is set to incur fines totaling roughly $104,000 for skipping all three days of minicamp. Whether a new deal gets done before training camp remains to be seen, but the Commanders and their head coach know this is not just business as usual.
