Terry McLaurin is officially holding out.
The Washington Commanders wide receiver missed a conditioning drill at the start of training camp on Tuesday and has since been placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report List. All other Commanders players were present for the drill, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
McLaurin's absence signals the start of a holdout as the two-time Pro Bowl receiver seeks a new contract.
McLaurin is approaching the third year of a three-year, $68.4 million contract with an average annual salary of $22.8 million. Amid a surging market with multiple receivers making more than $30 million annually, McLaurin is reportedly seeking $30-plus million per season.
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McLaurin's also approaching his age-30 season in a league where elite performance after 30 years old at the position is not the norm. The Commanders want to retain McLaurin but are reportedly not close to meeting his desire for $30-plus million per season.
What McLaurin, Commanders have said about negotiations
Commanders general manager Adam Peters addressed McLaurin's status during a news conference earlier Tuesday.
"Just like with all of our players, we're expecting everybody to be here today," Peters said of McLaurin. "Without a doubt, I think everybody in this building values Terry very much. ...
"In terms of where we're at, we've had conversations recently, and we'll look to have some more conversations. And we're gonna do everything we can in order to get a deal done."
McLaurin, who sat out mandatory minicamp, told reporters last week that he was "frustrated" by the lack of progress on a new contract and that he wants "to be here."
"With how the market is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of," McLaurin said, per ESPN. "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 have to beg for someone to see your worth and value. Everything in previous regimes, and now I've done everything asked of me."
McLaurin's case for a new deal
McLaurin is a six-season NFL veteran who's played his entire career with the Commanders. He's emerged as one of the most consistent and productive receivers in football with 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the last five seasons.
He's started each game he's played in his career and has never played fewer than 14 games in a season. He's started all 17 regular-season games in each of the last four seasons. He's remained a reliable producer despite a rotating cast under center in Washington as 11 different quarterbacks have started for the Commanders since he joined the franchise in 2019.
For the first time in decades, the Commanders have stability at quarterback after the fast-track emergence of 2024 rookie Jayden Daniels, who earned Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors while leading the Commanders to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
McLaurin was Daniels' favorite target and saw his own production increase as the tandem repeatedly connected for big plays throughout the season. McLaurin finished 2024 with 82 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns, by far the most of his career. He'd previously eclipsed five touchdowns in a season just once when he caught seven as a rookie.
The stakes are high in Washington with expectations elevated for the second season of the Daniels era. McLaurin's seeking to leverage those stakes into a lucrative new deal.
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