Commanders' General Manager Reveals Terry McLaurin Contract Strategy

The biggest move has come on the offensive side, trading for Deebo Samuel and giving Daniels two feared weapons on the outside. Now, it's time for the second of these two weapons to get a big pay day. 

Terry McLaurin is on the final year of a three-year, $68.36 million contract signed back in 2022. He and the Commanders will try to work together on what should be a major contract extension. 

Commanders general manager Adam Peters provided an update on those conversations this week at the NFL owners' meetings. 

“We want to make Terry a Commander for a long time,” Peters told The Washington Post.

“He got better and better as the season went on — not only as a player but as a leader... You think of Terry as this pristine, polished player, but then he got even better, so it’s really cool...

"We’ve had talks with Terry’s representation, and I think — just like any talks we’ll have — those will stay in the house. But it’s been really positive.”

This is a big step for both sides. McLaurin has been with the Commanders for six seasons, having stuck it out through some ugly years. The landscape has changed and he now presumes to play a major role in the future of the franchise. 

Peters' feelings are perfectly clear and the hope is that these conversations can continue to be amicable and productive. The trickiest part will be finding the right number for McLaurin. 

McLaurin has posted 1,000 yards each of the last five seasons and had the 12th most receiving yards among wide receivers in 2024. Looking at his next contract, he certainly deserves top 10 money. 

That would likely mean his yearly salary clears $30 million. However, no official figures have been released just yet. 

Nonetheless, McLaurin and the Commanders are officially in business and one side will be working to get their franchise receiver locked in for the long term.