Terry McLaurin has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $96 million with the Washington Commanders, ending a contract stalemate that resulted in the All-Pro wide receiver requesting a trade. The new deal was reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The news is cause for relief in Washington as the Commanders look to build on the breakout rookie campaign of quarterback Jayden Daniels.
McLaurin was Daniels' favorite target during his historic 2024 season in which he was named Rookie of the Year, earned Pro Bowl honors and finished seventh in voting for MVP. Washington finished 12-5 and advanced to the NFC championship game after stunning the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the playoffs.
McLaurin caught 13 of Daniels' 25 touchdown passes and was a frequent recipient of deep balls that became a signature of Daniels' rookie season. Now the pair can continue to operate as one of the most effective pass-and-catch tandems in football.
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McLaurin, 29, has emerged as one of the NFL's most dependable and consistently productive receivers, earning Pro Bowl honors twice in the last three seasons and being named second-team All-Pro in 2024. He's played in all 17 regular-season games in each of the last four seasons and has never played in fewer than 14 since joining the Commanders as a rookie in 2019.
McLaurin tallied 919 receiving yards as a rookie and has crossed the 1,000-yard threshold in each of his five seasons since. McLaurin was easily Washington's No. 1 receiving option last season while tallying 82 catches for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns, nearly doubling his previous career-high of seven.
Tight end Zach Ertz was Washington's second-leading pass catcher with 66 catches for 654 yards. Olamide Zaccheaus was Washington's next-leading wide receiver with 45 catches for 506 yards. He's now a member of the Chicago Bears.
McLaurin started training camp as a holdout amid failed contract negotiations as he entered the final season of a three-year, $68.4 million deal. In a surging wide receiver market in which eight receivers have signed contracts paying them $30 million or more per season, McLaurin presumably sought to cross that salary barrier.
Working against McLaurin in his negotiations was his age. McLaurin's approaching his age-30 season, a point in which teams become wary of offering lucrative contracts. Tyreek Hill, 31, is the only receiver older than 30 who's being paid $30-plus million per season (three years, $90 million).
A.J. Brown, 28, is the only other receiver older than 27 making that much (three years, $96 million). Ja'Marr Chase, 25, has the richest contract for a wide receiver in the NFL (four years, $161 million).
McLaurin eventually reported to training camp after skipping the first week of sessions. Days later, he reportedly requested a trade amid continued failed negotiations and was placed by the Commanders on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an ankle injury.
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