Amid little fanfare, the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin have come to terms on a contract extension. Washington signed McLaurin to a three year, $96 million contract, which includes a $30 million signing bonus. The agreement ends McLaurin’s training camp hold in, a period which saw McLaurin remain with the team while his agents and the Commanders’ organization participated in negotiations.
It was never in doubt that the two sides would eventually reach an agreement. McLaurin has been Washington’s most consistent receiver over the past five seasons, recording five straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He was especially crucial to the development of quarterback Jayden Daniels in 2024. McLaurin established himself as Daniels’ most trusted receiver, hauling in 13 touchdown passes last season as the Commanders fielded one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.
Washington was hesitant to give McLaurin a lucrative extension. Traditional wisdom dictates that it isn’t wise to give lucrative, long term deals to older players. McLaurin will turn 31 around the beginning of the 2025 season, an age when many wide receivers show signs of slowing down. Not only is McLaurin not slowing down, he’s continued to maintain a high standard of stellar play with his 13th different quarterback in six full seasons in Washington. Daniels is by far the best of the quarterbacks that McLaurin has played with. He won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and even garnered some consideration for NFL Most Valuable Player honors. Daniels’ accolades can directly be attributed to McLaurin.
The Commanders did the right thing in reaching an agreement with McLaurin. Washington has emerged as a Super Bowl contender as they continue to solidify their roster in their efforts to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles, last season’s Super Bowl champions. To compete with the Eagles, the Commanders will have to carry the offensive momentum they created last season into this season. And there’s no question that McLaurin will be the catalyst to sustain that momentum in 2025.