After being one win away from reaching the Super Bowl last season, the Washington Commanders have entered the conversation of contenders in the NFL. However, their newfound momentum is being stalled due to off-field drama.
Heading into mandatory minicamp, the biggest story for the Commanders was a player who was not on the field. Now in the final year of his deal, wide receiver Terry McLaurin has eyed a new contract to keep him in Washington. The two sides have been unable to agree to terms on an extension, resulting in him being away from the team at the moment.
Since the start of McLaurin’s holdout, most of the developments around the situation have been positive. The franchise has remained confident they’ll resolve things before the 2025 season gets underway. That said, recent chatter regarding his holdout suggests that his holdout won’t be ending anytime soon.
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During an appearance on 106.7 The Fan, NFL insider Albert Breer chimed in on McLaurin’s standoff with the Commanders. He cited wanting to get in the $30 million annually range as a key roadblock in discussions.
“I don’t think it’s in a great place right now,” Breer said. “If you’re Terry McLaurin, you look at it and you’re saying don’t even come to me with anything that doesn’t start with a three [30] per year. I think it’s fair for him to ask for something in that range just based on where the market has gone. I think they will eventually get something done.”
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In recent years, the wide receiver market has gone through a massive boom. This season, eight wideouts are set to make $30 million or more. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase will be the highest-paid player at the position as the only wide receiver making over $40 million.
From a production standpoint, McLaurin certainly belongs in the pay range of his top counterparts in the league. He is fresh off his fifth straight 1,000-plus yard season and caught a career-high 13 touchdowns. Seeing that he has a strong connection with Jayden Daniels, the front office should be eager to get him inked to a new deal.
After making multiple upgrades in the offseason, the Commanders want to remain in the mix in 2025. To do so, they’ll need a locked-in and focused McLaurin. As training camp gets closer, putting an end to this holdout should be Washington’s top priority.
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