Washington Commanders Lock In Terry McLaurin With Lucrative Deal

The Washington Commanders are looking to the future with their star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, as the two parties have agreed to a three-year, $96 million contract extension. The announcement was made by agents Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. This new deal comes with a significant $30 million signing bonus, as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

McLaurin previously signed a three-year, $68.2 million contract extension in 2022, which kept him with the Commanders through 2025. After consistently outperforming that contract, the former Ohio State standout, and third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, proved he was deserving of a more lucrative agreement.

Over the past five seasons, McLaurin has impressively recorded five consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Last year, he caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, earning himself a spot in the Pro Bowl and recognition on the All-Pro Second Team.

A burgeoning connection with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was pivotal to the team's offensive success, which ranked as the No. 5 scoring offense in football. Under their combined efforts, the Commanders also achieved a remarkable 12-5 record, reaching the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.

Understanding McLaurin's importance, Commanders general manager Adam Peters expressed the team's intent to retain him long-term during owners' meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. "We want to make Terry a Commander for a long time," Peters stated, though the negotiation journey was not without its hurdles.

Frustration surfaced for McLaurin during training camp in July, as he voiced his disappointment about not securing a new deal despite his contributions on and off the field. Despite his desire to stay with the Commanders, he briefly missed training camp before reporting on July 27. However, injury issues landed him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

As negotiations dragged on, McLaurin's situation intensified, leading to a trade request on July 31 amidst reports of no progress towards a new contract. However, unlike other players in similar situations who have secured long-term deals, McLaurin's future seemed uncertain for a while.

Fortunately, following months of negotiations and a rocky road, McLaurin was activated off the PUP list on August 16. With this negotiation finally concluded, the Commanders have solidified McLaurin's status as a key asset going forward, ensuring he will contribute significantly to the team's ambitions in the upcoming seasons.