Among all the unresolved storylines heading into the final stretch of preseason prep, Terry McLaurin’s situation with the Washington Commanders stands out as one of the most complex and challenging to predict.
The wide receiver seeks a new contract, but the team has not agreed to his demands. With August approaching, a resolution is needed. In the meantime, one insider revealed what McLaurin’s approach might be as training camp begins.
Is Terry McLaurin Open To Leaving the Commanders?
Over the past few years, McLaurin has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Commanders on the field. Often labeled an underrated receiver, his consistency despite playing with average quarterbacks has made him a cornerstone for Jayden Daniels’ development.
DANIELS TO MCLAURIN FOR 61 YARDS!
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And it paid off. The 2024 season was the best of his career overall, with a personal-best 13 touchdowns and his third-highest receiving yardage total, finishing with 1,096 yards. But alongside his breakout year came the demand for a new contract, as his current deal expires at the end of this season.
Insider Henry McKenna reported for Fox Sports that McLaurin won’t hold back in negotiations and is expected to push for a resolution from the Commanders, who haven’t been in contact with him for weeks.
“If necessary, McLaurin will explore every option, including a holdout, a hold-in, and a trade request, per the source. ‘Everything will be on the table,’ the source told me,” McKenna wrote.
McLaurin’s asking price could aim to surpass the average annual values of Garrett Wilson and possibly DK Metcalf. While the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver is making $34 million annually, Wilson’s $32.5 million salary might represent Washington’s upper limit in talks.
If McLaurin Gets Traded, What Would Be Washington’s Options?
A potential trade would be a significant setback for Daniels early in his career, especially given his immediate connection with the two-time Pro Bowler as a rookie. McLaurin, entering his third contract and seventh NFL season, likely sets the trade value around a late first-round pick.
The team brought in Deebo Samuel this offseason to complement the receiving corps, but his role is more supportive at this stage of his career than starring. Losing McLaurin could put too much pressure on a receiver who’s no longer in his prime and force the team to look for another option on the market.
One possibility would be a player-for-player trade. A potential deal with the San Francisco 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk could reunite the duo that thrived under Kyle Shanahan. It would make sense given Aiyuk’s strained relationship with the 49ers and the fact that he already has a long-term contract.
Another option would be to take the hit and move into the season with Samuel, Noah Brown, and Luke McCaffrey as the primary receivers, which is far from ideal and would likely mean taking a step back to reset for 2025.
Among all the scenarios, the most favorable remains finding common ground with McLaurin and keeping him under contract during the early years of Daniels’ rookie deal.
