Terry McLaurin Shocks Washington Commanders with Bold Trade Demand: "It's Now or Never!"

Changing from a holdout to a so-called hold-in wasn’t Terry McLaurin’s last move in his contract standoff with the Washington Commanders, nor his most decisive. The five-time 1,000-yard wide receiver has now hit the team with a request to be traded.

McLaurin’s request was reported by NFL Insider Jordan Schultz and ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday, July 31.

The player’s decision brings to a head what’s quickly turned into an ugly dispute between the Commanders and one of their most talented assets. McLaurin could be trying to force a swift resolution about his future with the Burgundy and Gold, but general manager Adam Peters has so far refused to budge.

It means the Commanders risk losing their most prolific pass-catcher. McLaurin will have no shortage of suitors if he’s put onto the trading block.

Peters could expect to command decent compensation for one of the league’s more prolific playmakers, but at the risk of weakening the supporting cast around star second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels at a key point in his development.

Terry McLaurin Desperate, Frustrated

The extent of McLaurin’s frustration with the Commanders is obvious based on the timing of his trade request. That’s according to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports, who pointed out a “trade request was kinda his last card to play outside of actually missing games. I wouldn’t have expected it until mid-August, but maybe that speaks to the level of frustration.”

McLaurin being desperate for a resolution is as understandable as his angst that an agreement has yet to be reached. He wants to be rewarded for six seasons of sterling service, when McLaurin has been a consistent game-breaker, despite ongoing problems at quarterback only solved when the Commanders selected Daniels second overall a year ago.

To his credit, McLaurin proved his quality by taking his numbers up a level in response to better play from football’s most important position. Career-highs of 1,096 yards and 13 touchdown catches underlined McLaurin’s value and accelerate Daniels’ transition to the pros.

Statistics like those should get McLaurin paid, but the Commanders have long acted like they’re prepared to enter the new season without him if it comes to that, despite noises to the contrary.

Commanders Can Entertain the Right Trade

When he traded for All-Pro Deebo Samuel and used a 2025 NFL draft fourth-round pick to select Jaylin Lane, Peters put in place safeguards against losing McLaurin. Just as the Commanders did by adding former 1,000-yard Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup in free agency.

Gallup, Samuel and Lane join a potential breakout candidate, last year’s third-round pick Luke McCaffrey, to form an interesting nucleus of alternative receivers. It’s a group augmented by a non-“flashy” star of training camp, along with Noah Brown, last season’s Hail Mary hero.

None of these receivers, bar the multi-faceted Samuel, are as dynamic as McLaurin. Yet, the Commanders could bet on a loaded committee still producing, mostly thanks to Daniels’ talent, and offering a cheaper alternative to paying McLaurin during his age 30 season.

He wants “what guys of my caliber are deserving of,” per Schefter’s colleague John Keim. The latter noted how “two high-end receivers near McLaurin’s age signed extensions last year: At 30, Miami’s Tyreek Hill signed a three-year extension for $30 million per year with $52.535 million guaranteed. At 31, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans signed for two years and $41 million with $35 million guaranteed.”

Keim also offered this note of caution to McLaurin: “The Commanders have been firm in telling people for a long time they would not trade him.”

That might change if Peters receives the right offer. It could happen because there are plenty of receiver-needy teams who would offer a lot for a wideout as tough and productive as McLaurin.

The Commanders can at least grant this request and explore what they might get.