The Washington Commanders have yet to agree to a new contract extension with their lead wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. On Tuesday, McLaurin was a no-show for conditioning testing, marking his absence from the start of training camp. For each day missed, the Ohio State alum will be fined $50,000.
Entering the final year of his three-year, $68 million deal, McLaurin has been a consistent performer for a Washington team that struggled before the arrival of second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels is a deep-ball quarterback who excels at chunk plays. The former third-round pick was the LSU product’s favorite target.
McLaurin expressed his frustration after a commercial shoot last Tuesday about the lack of progress in contract talks.
“With how the market is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of. I feel I fit in that box because of how I’ve carried myself on and off the field. I don’t want to feel like you must beg for someone to see your worth and value. Everything in previous regimes and now—I’ve done everything asked of me,” he stated.
For three consecutive years, the Indiana native has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and has every right to feel he deserves an extension before stepping back on the field.
The real question is: what number is he asking for? Turning 30 years old in September, most receivers experience a steady decline heading into their thirties.
Washington has every right to be cautious. However, when you have a legitimate championship window with a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, you want to keep everything as copacetic as possible.
A fan favorite and team captain, McLaurin will likely need to be paid before he returns to action. He has the respect of the locker room and the fan base. If he is not extended, it puts this front office in an uncomfortable spot.
