Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Like every year, 2025 has seen a number of notable veteran contract situations linger into the period between offseason programs concluding and training camps beginning. Terry McLaurin is among the players who skipped minicamp as a sign of dissatisfaction with the status of negotiations.

An extension has long been known as a goal for team and player in this case. Given McLaurin’s importance to the Commanders’ offense during his six years with the franchise, many observers presumed talks on a third contract would be relatively smooth. It has become increasingly clear, however, that player and team are not close to an agreement. The Commanders themselves have been surprised by the extent to which progress has not yet been made regarding a McLaurin extension.

On that point, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms there is still plenty of work to be done between Washington and the two-time Pro Bowler. Plenty of time remains before training camp opens, and Breer predicts efforts will pick up again in July. Still, the possibility of a McLaurin holdout (or hold-in, depending on the approach he takes) is no doubt unwanted on the part of general manager Adam Peters as Washington looks to build off last year’s success.

McLaurin has reeled off five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons while serving as the Commanders’ clear-cut No. 1 receiver. His touchdown total jumped to 13 in 2024 as quarterback Jayden Daniels enjoyed a stellar rookie season. Washington has since acquired Deebo Samuel via trade, but even with the former 49ers All-Pro in the fold another strong season from McLaurin will be needed if the team is to repeat last year’s run to the NFC title game.

Samuel is a pending free agent, and the same is currently true of McLaurin. At the age of 30, making a long-term investment in the latter could bring about challenges for Washington, but a raise compared to his $15.5MM non-guaranteed salary (especially taking the receiver market into account) would be a feasible move. A new deal would no doubt lower McLaurin’s cap charge, which is currently set to check in at $25.5MM.

Ja’Marr Chase moved to the top of the pecking order for average annual compensation amongst wideouts ($40.25MM) when he signed his Bengals extension this offseason. McLaurin is not in position to challenge that figure, but seven other receivers are attached to an AAV of $30MM or more at the position. It will be interesting to see if a pact around that value winds up being agreed to in the coming weeks or if the threat of missed time during training camp increases as the result of an ongoing stalemate.

Terry McLaurin enjoyed a highly productive campaign in 2024, continuing his run as the focal point of the Commanders’ passing attack and forming a strong connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Early this offseason, general manager Adam Peters made it clear an extension was high on the team’s to-do list.

In spite of those two factors, it has become increasingly team and player have not made much in the way of progress at the negotiating table. McLaurin is aiming for a third Washington contract, but his absence from spring practices was the first of multiple illustrations of his frustrations. The Pro Bowl wideout was also among the extension-eligible players who skipped mandatory minicamp this week.

Plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached before a potential training camp holdout, but work will need to be done to take care of one of the team’s top remaining pieces of offseason business. One year remains on McLaurin’s pact, and he is owed $15.5MM in non-guaranteed salary for 2025. With a scheduled cap charge $25.5MM, an extension would benefit both parties in this case. As of last week, though, nothing was imminent regarding a deal coming together.

Some eyebrows have been raised by outside observers at the extent to which the McLaurin talks have run into trouble, and they are not alone in that regard. A team source informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler of the surprise at how the situation has arrived at this point (video link). The source confirmed Washington’s desire to keep McLaurin, 29, in the organization for the remainder of his career. To more of an extent than the Commanders expected, however, attaining that goal has proven to be challenging.

A second-team All-Pro performer last season, McLaurin topped 1,000 yards for the fifth straight campaign while setting a new career high with 13 touchdowns. The Ohio State product has managed to produce despite a Washington tenure marked by quarterback instability prior to Daniels’ arrival and a lack of consistent No. 2 receiver options. The Commanders were known to be in the market for a WR addition this offseason, and the trade for Deebo Samuel will give them a new starter at the position. Samuel is a pending 2026 free agent, meaning he joins McLaurin in having an uncertain future past the coming campaign.

The latter remains a priority regarding an extension agreement, but it will be interesting to see how close to the top of the receiver market Washington is willing to go. McLaurin would be subject to fines if he were to skip time during training camp next month, although a breakthrough in negotiations would of course make that a moot point.

The Commanders are not close to an extension agreement with Terry McLaurin. Tuesday has brought about the latest illustration of that point.

With McLaurin having already departed voluntary practices this spring, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports he is now absent from mandatory minicamp. That represents a repeat of how things played out in 2022 when the Pro Bowl wideout skipped both OTAs and minicamp before ultimately working out an extension. A third contract has long been known to be a team priority, but plenty of work still needs to be done at the negotiating table.

McLaurin is currently owed a $15.5MM base salary for 2025, the final year of his deal. A raise bringing him closer to the top of the receiver market would increase his upfront earnings while also likely lowering his $25.5MM cap charge. The 29-year-old is electing not to collect a $500K workout bonus by choosing to remain absent from minicamp, something which will create over $104K in fines if he remains absent for all three days.

Throughout his six-year tenure in the nation’s capital, McLaurin has been a focal point on offense. The former third-rounder nearly reached 1,000 yards as a rookie, and he has topped that mark every time since. In 2024 – quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign – he caught 13 touchdown passes after his previous career high was seven. Keeping the Daniels-McLaurin tandem in place for years to come would represent a logical goal for the Commanders.

It has become increasingly clear recently that an agreement is not close in this situation, however. After remaining away from the team during his first round of extension talks, McLaurin wound up signing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $23.2MM. That figure now ranks 16th amongst receivers, and the position’s market has also seen a notable jump in terms of guarantees. A McLaurin raise will no doubt entail a fresh round of locked in compensation, but questions will now linger until at least the start of training camp regarding when it will be finalized.

Washington made a notable receiver addition by trading for Deebo Samuel this offseason. The former 49ers All-Pro reworked his deal upon arrival, but he is still a pending 2026 free agent. The same will hold true of McLaurin until progress is made on the extension front.