Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders had an exceptional 2024 campaign. The team went from picking second in the 2024 NFL Draft to playing in the NFC Championship game.
McLaurin is entering his final season under contract with Washington and wants a new deal, but the Commanders haven’t presented a strong enough offer. Hear one insider’s thoughts on where contract talks stand.
NFL Insider Says Terry McLaurin, Commanders Contract Talks Are Getting ‘Bumpy’
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, and fell short of that mark by 81 yards in his rookie year, where he only played 14 games.
He made the Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro after posting 82 receptions, 1,096 yards, and 13 touchdowns last season. The Commanders’ offense finished 6th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric with McLaurin as the leading receiver.
McLaurin was a critical piece to Jayden Daniels’ stellar rookie year, and the receiver wants to be recognized for it. Daniels is the team’s future, but McLaurin is the Commanders’ leader. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently appeared on a local Washington radio show and feels that contract talks aren’t going well.
106.7 The Fan’s X account tweeted Breer’s comments. He said, “I don’t think it’s in a great place right now. I think it’s just the, I hate to say, normal course of things, but I do think, to some degree, these things do get bumpy. They’ve gotten bumpier as the market’s exploded over the last couple of years, with the cap going up as fast as it has.
“If you’re Terry McLaurin, you look at it and say, ‘Don’t come to me with anything that doesn’t start with a 3 per year.’ It’s fair of him to ask for something in that range, just with where the market’s gone.”
What is Albert Breer hearing about Terry McLaurin contract talks? “I don’t think it’s in a great place right now.” pic.twitter.com/bbidXlEfx4
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) June 5, 2025
Breer then noted how Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb each received over $34 million recently. However, the insider feels that DK Metcalf is a better comparison. Metcalf got a four-year, $33 million deal after being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Will the Commanders Offer McLaurin a Worthy Offer?
McLaurin signed a three-year, $68.2 million extension in 2022. He’s set to make $25.5 million next season, which would make him the 12th-highest paid receiver in the NFL. He’s been a consistent producer through some lean years in Washington, but will the team give him a third contract?
Breer says Metcalf is a worthy comparison. The newest Steelers receiver’s extension makes him the 4th-highest paid receiver in the league, and the statistics are similar for each guy. Metcalf’s advantage is that he’s only 27, whereas McLaurin is already 29.
Justifying $33 million for a nearly 30-year-old receiver could be a tough pill to swallow for Washington’s front office. McLaurin’s standing on the team is worthy of the money, but will “bumpy” contract talks affect his attitude heading into training camp?