After a months-long stalemate, the Washington Commanders and their star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, reached an agreement Monday on a three-year contract extension, ending his hold-in and putting him on pace to play in their regular-season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. The extension is worth up to $96 million, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, citing McLaurin’s agents Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura.
Now under contract through 2028, including a $30 million signing bonus, the Commanders’ Pro-Bowl receiver gets his payday, news the DMV community has anxiously waited for. The soon-to-be 30-year-old, a former Ohio State standout and third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, receives his second extension since joining the Commanders. Entering his seventh year in the league, his production on the field has made him well deserving of a new, lucrative deal.
McLaurin and his representatives dug in on a new deal for quite some time. In a series of events, McLaurin has made a multitude of business decisions, starting with missing voluntary off-season workouts, as well as the mandatory three-day minicamp. He also held out for the first four days of training camp, to eventually “hold-in” and be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List (ankle), and requested a trade from the team in late July.
In the end, McLaurin bet on himself through patience, discipline, and ultimately his resume of consistent production. Finally paying off with a deal that cements his status as the cornerstone of Washington’s offense in a new era for the franchise. McLaurin officially ends this chapter of negotiations and will start to suit up for practices with Washington, after officially coming off the PUP list Aug. 16, and reaching an agreement on a much-anticipated contract extension.
A Proven Producer Through Constant Change
Since McLaurin’s rookie season in 2019, he has been Washington’s most consistent performer on offense. McLaurin has recorded five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons — a franchise record — and is sixth in career receiving yards. McLaurin is also eighth in receiving touchdowns and sixth in career targets. His precise route running, ability to make contested catches, and knack for stretching the defense vertically with his speed have turned him into one of the league’s most respected receivers.
It’s difficult not to mention the fact that McLaurin has played with over 10 starting quarterbacks since entering the league. And now that, for the foreseeable future, the Commanders have their household name at QB1 with second-year signal caller Jayden Daniels. There was no better time than now to lock in McLaurin on the new deal while Daniels is on his rookie contract.
Building Around Daniels, McLaurin, and a Championship Window
Beyond rewarding McLaurin, the extension highlights Washington’s long-term plan to surround rookie quarterback Daniels with stability. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has drawn rave reviews through training camp for his poise and athleticism, despite not having his No. 1 wideout participating in practice. Putting pen to paper today allows the duo to build on their 2024 campaign, accelerating Daniels’ development.
Before Monday’s new deal between Washington and McLaurin, Daniels made it known that he wasn’t worried about the receiver’s absence from practice. Daniels has remained confident that the chemistry they’ve built over the previous season will pick up right where they left off, and that “I just know that it’s all going to work out,” Daniels said in an interview with NFL Insider Dianna Russini.
The new deal also reflects a broader vision for the franchise under new ownership. After years of instability, Washington is intent on keeping its homegrown star in the Burgundy and Gold, as the team was one win away from a Super Bowl appearance last season. With McLaurin locked in, Daniels under center, a rebuilt offensive line, and critical additions on the defensive side of the ball, the Commanders are positioning themselves for their most realistic championship window in decades.
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