The Washington Commanders are in hot water with the team’s biggest star, wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The two sides are engaged in contract conversations, but earlier this month insider Jordan Schultz reported that McLaurin had grown frustrated with the lack of progress. McLaurin then abruptly made an early exit from the team’s OTAs. Now, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has drawn up a blockbuster trade that sends the star to the New York Jets.
Jets Get: WR Terry McLaurin, RB Austin Ekeler, 2025 5th-round pick
Commanders Get: 2026 2nd-round pick, RB Breece Hall
“The Jets are looking for a franchise reset in 2025, with a new coach in Aaron Glenn and a new quarterback in Justin Fields,” Knox wrote. “Getting off to a fast start would help both Glenn and Fields, and adding McLaurin could help New York do it… New York added Josh Reynolds this offseason but should be interested in adding McLaurin opposite Garrett Wilson.”
This proposal quickly makes the Jets receiving room, which Pro Football Focus recently ranked the fifth worst in the entire league, a top end unit. Garret Wilson would play the Z, allowing the young star to be more flexible within the offense, while Terry McLaurin could solidify the X position. This would command two man help on the back side of any formation, which would make Justin Fields legs even more dangerous.
Could The New York Jets Offense Survive Without Breece Hall
Last season the Jets finished last in the NFL with only 363 rushing attempts. Breece Hall finished his third season in the league with less rushing yards, less receiving yards, and less total touchdowns than the season before.
Of course, it is unlikely the Jets will want to follow the offensive blueprint from a season that saw only five wins to twelve losses. That is why PFF’s Zoltán Buday views Hall as one of the leagues seven biggest bounce-back candidates.
“Although his career is generally trending upward, Hall has a chance to turn things around in a big way — and the timing couldn’t be better, as he enters a contract year,” Budlay writes. “After finishing eighth among running backs with an 82.4 PFF overall grade in 2023, Hall saw his performance dip significantly in 2024… but a rebuilt offensive line and an offense that may lean more on the run game offer further reasons for optimism. Hall appears poised for a strong bounce-back in 2025.”
Can The Jets Afford Terry McLaurin’s Contract
As mentioned above, Breece Hall is operating on a contract year. So whether it’s their homegrown running back, or the mega star from Washington, the Jets are going to be paying someone.
“The potential obstacle for New York is a financial one,” Kristopher Knox continued. “While the Jets have $37 million available, they also need to consider extensions for standout 2022 draft picks Garrett, Sauce Gardner, Jermaine Johnson II and Breece Hall… With Fields perfectly capable of augmenting the ground game, the Jets may have no interest in extending Hall with a top-of-the-market contract.”
With so many mouths to feed, substituting McLaurin for Hall could be seamless. McLaurin’s current deal expires after this season, at which point he would become a free agent. So if the Commanders can’t get a deal done, they would be wise to trade him for a massive haul like this rather than let him walk for no gain.
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