The staredown between the Commanders and Terry McLaurin has resulted in a trade request. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the star wide receiver has requested a trade out of Washington. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has confirmed the report.
[RELATED: Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Reports To Camp]
McLaurin seemed to quiet the ongoing trade chatter after he reported to training camp earlier this week, ending his brief holdout. After showing up to the Commanders facility, the wideout was placed on the active/PUP list as he nursed a lingering ankle injury. Of course, there’s been plenty of speculation that McLaurin simply showed up to avoid fines, and his phantom injury was simply part of his hold-in strategy.
It sounds like the two sides made some effort to return to the negotiating table. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that talks have “stalled,” leading to today’s sudden trade request. James Palmer of Bleacher Report notes that the Commanders don’t appear to be “moving” from their existing offer, while Albert Breer of TheMMQB says there hasn’t been any progress in talks for a month.
McLaurin has one year remaining on a three-year, $71MM deal he signed with the Commanders back in 2022. The $23.3MM average annual value now ranks 17th among wide receivers, and the former All-Pro is naturally seeking a new deal that would put him towards the top of the positional market. While McLaurin hasn’t explicitly stated what kind of money he’s seeking in his new deal, there’s been a belief that he’s pushing for a contract that would pay him around $32MM to $33MM per year. That would put him just outside the top-three AAVs among wide receivers (behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb).
The Commanders, meanwhile, have been hesitant about offering a contract that exceeds a $30MM AAV. While 2019 Day 2 classmates D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown both earned contracts that place them in the top-six of their position, the Commanders have been wary of offering a similar pact to the older McLaurin. The 2025 campaign will represent McLaurin’s age-30 season, and it sounds like the front office is using that factor against their star wideout.
On the flip side, it’s stunning that the Commanders have let the stalemate get to this point. The organization is coming off their most successful season in decades, with 2024 second-overall pick Jayden Daniels quickly establishing himself as a franchise quarterback. While the team brought in the likes of Deebo Samuel and Michael Gallup this offseason, McLaurin is still far and away their most dynamic playmaker, and the team’s immediate outlook would take a significant hit if the wideout is playing elsewhere in 2025.
While it was publicly known that a gap existed between the Commanders and McLaurin, the front office has resisted trade inquiries so far. According to Schefter, rival teams have considered making a run at the wideout, and it remains to be seen if today’s development will change the organization’s approach.
It’s not surprising that suitors would be lining up for McLaurin’s services. The former third-round pick has been one of the most consistent players at his position since entering the league in 2019. McLaurin has topped 1,000 receiving in each of the past five seasons, and he’s coming off one of the most productive campaigns of his career. The 29-year-old finished 2024 with 82 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Still, the most likely outcome sees the Commanders ultimately relenting to McLaurin’s demands. From Samuel to Tee Higginsto Brandon Aiyuk, we’ve seen plenty of wideouts request trades that didn’t (immediately) come to fruition. Considering how much the Commanders have to lose in this situation, that appears to be the likeliest outcome here, although this will obviously be a situation to watch over the next month.
We’ve heard the pats are interested. Wonder who else might call.
The 49ers have a bit of history in acquiring disgruntled players from Washington.
Washington doesn’t want Diggs and his attitude. Trade him in a package for Hendrickson and pay that man who is worth the money. Maybe get Higgins with the trade and uncle some others.. MAKE MY DAY!
This is literary insane lol
There is literally no chance that Cincinnati does that deal. Period.
McLaurin for Hendrickson MAYBE but there is absolutely no way you get Higgins.
Lmao they just paid Higgins and Chase no way in Westeros are bengals moving for Terry haha
So Hendrickson and Higgins for McLaurin I’m sure the Bengals will jump all over that lol
Steelers
Patriots Falcons Raiders & Texans make most sense
Steelers are gonna get him just watch
They just paid DK lmao
Raiders fan here. 33 million is steep. Don’t see them biting on that. Maybe the patriots, other then that, I don’t think any team goes for top 3 money.
Find another WR who can give you five straight 1,000 yard seasons with bad QB play.
Why in the world would McL want to go to the pats?
Pats have the money and a promising young QB and champion winning coaching staff. New England is way more reasonable than his current situation apparently
lol.. a promising young QB? Heard that about the last one… spoiler alert…Drake Maye sucks just like MCCorkle did. Championship winning coaching staff? lol Vrabel, like Bill Belly, was dragged to rings by Brady. He wasted Henry’s career in Tennessee. pats fans will grasp at anything now that the floor has caved in.
Sigh
I’m still guessing this ends in a new deal with Washington.
Most likely scenario
Terry saw that MLB’s trade deadline is over and decided it’s his turn
Ronk325. Best comment of the day! Lol
Cleveland!
Make him sit on the damn bench and honor your contract. Why do football players think they can demand trades? You are under contract fool! Faking an injury to stop the fines when you reported to camp you fraud.. you don’t care about Washington!
lol so are you mad every time a team cuts a player, thus “not honoring” the contract 😂. Teams have the right to cut with dead money, players have the right to sit out and get fines. How can people still not understand that? And no it’s not a new generation thing, holdouts were more common in the 90’s than they are today. Teams used to be able to waive holdout fines, now it’s automatic.
Also, why would WAS sit him on the bench lmfao? Pay him so he can play or trade him for assets. Literally the only truly bad option is sitting him on the bench 😂
@Fight Facism: nailed it. These contact situations go both ways. The design with some of the contract being non guaranteed benefits the owners. Players asking for trades or extensions in the final year of their deals is just good business on the athlete’s part
The non guaranteed part is part of the contract. Being cut with dead money is part of the contract. Keeping the player and paying them the amount they agreed to pay in the event the player was on the roster is also part of the contract.
Holding out is allowed in the CBA. Get over it.
The player literally has the right to holdout at any point in the contract.
The team can cut or trade him at any point in the contract.
Terry is holding out for an extension at the rate he thinks he’s worth, that’s his right.
Teams cut players they don’t think are worth the number they originally signed them for. That’s their right.
That is called a contract.
I don’t understand what the issue is guys? Holy F*** I’m losing brain cells
You can’t even spell fascism yet you think you’re gonna fight it? Fr?
lol thanks, whoops
Gross
Given that Washington is hesitant to pay the man based on his age, why should he care about Washington? Loyalty is a two-way street, and Washington is already looking ahead to his decline. I understand that’s the business of the NFL and all of that, but put yourself in his shoes for a minute maybe before you rage. He’s been a consummate professional for them.
As someone else already expressed, would you be just as mad if Washington cut him when he starts to decline, or is that cool?
He suffered through years of garbage Qbs in Washington without complaining. He was the only reasons people would maybe turn on a commanders game. He was the only household name for many years. He stuck by the team during very bad seasons. Guy has been loyal to the team. Get out of here
“Stuck by the team”….he had a contract that paid him the richly sum of over $22 million which was probably near the top of scale….he may have some admirable qualities amd has played very well through Wasingtons QB troubles but let’s not make him a marter too.
For the second time, he gave them a discount on that second contract.
There’s a reason that approach hasn’t worked since the Eagles did it to TO.
Washington is trying to be a contender and thinking they can lowball their only consistent WR, and you don’t seem to see how stupid that is.
Nobody you could get would be better than McLaurin, and few would be younger. You have no shot at getting Higgins so put that pipe dream out of your mind. The only player on the block is Aiyuk, and every free agent WR but Gabe Davis is older than McLaurin.
“Make him sit on the damn bench and honor your contract.”
In CBA negotiations, which side do you think argues in favor of non-guaranteed contracts: players or owners? It’s the owners who fight tooth-and-nail for non-guaranteed contracts and the ability to cut players (thereby dishonoring their contracts) whenever they see fit. As long as the owners keep fighting for this, the “honor your contract” bozos can kindly shut their traps.
That is what the player wants. He does not want to enter into FA recovering from an acl tear or other. He wants to watch until the team extends or trades him. The team is the one that does not care.
Because until the contracts are fully guaranteed this is gonna keep happening. The owners can cut anyone they want if there not playing well but players cant ask for more money when they do. Make that make sense tell the owners to honor the contracts as well
Ah yes.. The next step in negotiations.
How long until he unfollows them on social media. That’s step 3
Ha! Yep.
Once again I say. WTH are the commandos doing? They have a QB on a rookie contract and their offense sucks without Terry.
One of the few times I’ll agree with a Packer fan.
Trade him to one of the perpetual clown teams. He’ll provide twice his value a year from now.
What’s the point of the last contact?
He’s overpaid currently at $23M/year. Not sure what hes looking for? Teams can find guys who can provide similar production for much less $$.
Did you seriously just try to say he’s overpaid?
What are you on because it must be some strong stuff!
No, they absolutely can’t. He’s had five straight 1,000 yard seasons.
There were 21 1000 yd receivers in the 2024 NFL….It’s an achievement for sure but he isn’t an icon for sure…especially with the success of Daniel’s last season….some of you make it sound as if he’s playing for charity….he doesn’t have a contract for this season….
Look up how many have done it two times in a row let alone five.
Some of you just really shouldn’t talk about football at all.
Second team All-Pro, five straight 1,000 yard seasons, 13 TDs last year. Yeah, “overpaid”.
Man they doing him dirty. Dude did thousand years and missed zero games with horrible coaching dysfunction front office and D list QBs🧐
And he put up with Daniel Snyder as his owner for his first four seasons.
Exactly!!
Although nothing is going to come from this it’s mainly posturing to get the fan base going….i can only imagine the Steelers acquiring and extending him for 3/4 years then drafting a QB next year when the draft is in Pittsburgh and looking at a pretty solid team for a QB on a rookie contract
What do the Jets owner grandkids get in trade value for him? I’m sure Madden has him around 88 level.
When you work for a bad company in the real world the best way to get a raise is to go somewhere else.
Interesting issue for him and the team….a player who has played consistently near the top of his position who sought and received a 3 year contract that was also probably at the time indicative of the team rewarding him for success…who now is unhappy going into the last year of that contract…3 years older at that make or break NFL age of 29-30 because over that same 3 years the salaries of other players at his position have moved past his salary numbers….so do players want longer term security or want top of scale for success….the team is wary of an older player who may want top scale guaranteed money for multiple years while it’s possible that either he gets hurt….declines in production or continues his productivity…interesting business decision both ways…
He took less on that second contract than he had to.
The Bucs should trade for him, Terry killed them in the Wild Card game
PLAY OR NO PAY.
No play, no playoffs. Hard to sit your most proven and reliable WR when attempting to build off 2024’s momentum, so they either step up or trade him and take a step back in 2025.
Difference between good and great GMs.
I hope the potential 3MM in savings is worth possibly stalling the momentum WAS has built and possibly enabling a sophomore slump for JD.
Head scratching with JD on a rookie deal and it’s not like they have a ton of studs they’re paying
With Aiyuk out and Jennings going down, the 49ers should pick up the phone.