Many Washington Commanders fans expect that the contract negotiations between the organization and WR Terry McLaurin will eventually reach an agreement on a new deal ahead of the upcoming 2025 NFL season.
Well, one NFL insider didn’t exactly deliver good news on the progress of these negotiations on a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter Gives Lukewarm Terry McLaurin Update
One can make a fairly compelling argument that no one is more plugged into the information-gathering business in the NFL more than ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
So, when Schefter says there is nothing new on the contract negotiations between the Washington Commanders and star WR Terry McLaurin, then it could be reasonable for fans to start wondering if something is amiss between both sides.
Schefter said on a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, “There’s no update, which is the update, and that’s the problem… The problem is with this particular situation, I think Terry McLaurin is going to argue that we’ve seen other wide receivers, who his numbers are comparable to, like Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, and DK Metcalf, get paid over $30 million a year this offseason. And I think the Commanders then can say, ‘Yes, but Mike Evans, who also has had comparable numbers, is at $24 million.’ So there really is quite a difference, and a gap, between what both sides would want.”
McLaurin is going to turn 30 years old right after the start of the 2025 NFL season, which is likely why he wants to cash in on a new deal after seeing what the market is currently paying top receivers.
The Ohio State product has been one of the most consistent receivers in the league with 75+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards, and 4+ touchdowns over the last five seasons.
McLaurin has been very consistent regardless of the mostly poor quarterback play he has endured during the vast majority of his NFL career. It says something that the first opportunity McLaurin had to play with a top quarterback in the league, he immediately set a career-high in touchdowns with 13 in 2024.
McLaurin is also one of the best contested-catch artists in the NFL, which is an incredibly valuable asset for any quarterback to have at his disposal.
What Would the Commanders’ Offense Look Like This Season if Terry McLaurin Holds Out
The idea of McLaurin not being a part of this passing attack in 2025 should be scary enough in itself for the Commanders to come to the table.
Sure, the team acquired Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, but he is coming off of a rough season where he failed to top 55 receptions or 700 receiving yards in a productive 49ers offense that was without Brandon Aiyuk for the majority of the season.
Players like Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane don’t exactly feel like ideal candidates to assume McLaurin’s role in the offense, which makes this contract negotiation stalemate a bit puzzling.
Ultimately, there is still a lot of time left for both sides to work this out. McLaurin was Daniels’ top target last season. Playing hardball with your young franchise quarterback’s top target feels like it works against the Commanders’ strategy to surround Daniels with talent to maximize his rookie deal window in an attempt to improve upon their NFC Championship Game appearance from last season.
It is not time to panic yet, but this update from Schefter certainly isn’t the news fans wanted to hear.
