The Washington Commanders are playing hardball with wide receiver Terry McLaurin over his new contract, and he's not happy about it.
Reports haven't exactly been encouraging regarding the two-time Pro Bowler's expected extension with the Commanders. McLaurin wants more long-term financial security heading into the final year of his deal. He also knows his worth and sees how other wideouts around the league are getting paid.
McLaurin is holding out to achieve this objective. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State skipped voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp, but it didn't raise any urgency from the Commanders' perspective. And now, he's threatening to do the same at training camp unless he signs on the dotted line.
Terry McLaurin could hold out of Commanders training camp if a new deal isn't secured
Jeremy Fowler from ESPN became the latest to confirm that McLaurin is not impressed by the lack of genuine progress in negotiations between his representatives and the Commanders. The senior insider also hinted that if no new deal arrives before camp, the second-team All-Pro won't be on the field.
These reports don't come from nowhere. Given that the Commanders wouldn't leak anything and the fact that McLaurin is enjoying his pre-camp vacation, it probably came from his agent in an attempt to force general manager Adam Peters' hand.
The tactics haven't worked yet. There is still time before camp to work something out, and talks will likely ramp up in the next couple of weeks. McLaurin knows his value to the Commanders and is more than deserving of another big payday, but this is all about finding the right middle ground.
Large contracts with hefty commitments attached are complicated. McLaurin might be asking for $30 million per year or more, looking at the current market. The Commanders will point to his age as a reason to perhaps strike a better deal, but it would be shocking if a compromise weren't reached by the time camp begins.
The Commanders cannot let this drag on later into the summer. They have a good chance to go deep into the postseason in 2025 after a miraculous early turnaround under new head coach Dan Quinn. The last thing this team needs is McLaurin's contract becoming a distraction. And quarterback Jayden Daniels needs his best pass-catcher on the field sooner rather than later.
Fans aren't panicking just yet. But if McLaurin isn't in shorts and shells for the start of Washington's most intense period of preparations, that will change.
