Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin wants a new contract, and he sounds upset that it hasn’t been worked out yet with training camp scheduled to begin next week.
McLaurin is entering the final year of his three-year deal that he signed in 2022.
“Yeah, I’ve been pretty frustrated, I’m not going to lie,” McLaurin told reporters Tuesday, as seen in the video player above. “Everything that has transpired up to this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I want to continue my career here. I’ve created my life here. My wife and I have bought our first home here, so this has been somewhere where I’ve always wanted to be.”
McLaurin added: “Just to see how things have played out has been disappointing. I obviously understand everything is a business, but at the same time, I want to put myself in a position where I’m valued and I feel appreciated.”
The New England Patriots absolutely should call the Commanders and see if McLaurin might be available via trade.
Despite signing Stefon Diggs in the offseason, the Patriots still need a true No. 1 wide receiver in their offense. Diggs is coming off a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 last season, and even though it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s highly productive in 2025, the 32-year-old is not as good as McLaurin is right now.
McLaurin, who will turn 30 in September, has been one of the most consistent wideouts in the league since being drafted by the Commanders in the third round in 2019. He has tallied at least 77 receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the last five seasons.
McLaurin has put up impressive stats despite a revolving door of QBs in Washington.
The 2024 campaign was the first time McLaurin had a top 15 quarterback throwing him the ball. The Commanders drafted Jayden Danels with the No. 2 overall pick, and he immediately formed a strong connection with McLaurin, who caught 82 passes (second-most of his career) for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns in 17 games. His previous career high for touchdown catches was seven as a rookie in 2019.
Durability is another strength of McLaurin’s. He hasn’t missed a game in the last four years.
What kind of contract is McLaurin looking for? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that McLaurin is seeking $30-plus million per year.
“My understanding is he wants to be in the thirties,” Rapoport said on The Insiders. “And judging by his stats, the thirties make sense. The fact that Garrett Wilson on his first big deal — obviously, he’s much younger than McLaurin — but on his first big deal got more than $32 million per year based on new money. You’d think that would be good news for McLaurin.”
The Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game last season, and they have made some good upgrades to their roster in the offseason, including the acquisition of star wideout Deebo Samuel in March. Washington is a legit Super Bowl contender and should remain in that tier for a while as long as Daniels stays healthy.
That situation is a lot better than what’s going on with the Patriots, who face plenty of question marks after back-to-back 4-13 seasons. The Patriots should be much improved in 2025, but contending for an AFC title still feels a few years away.
If McLaurin values winning, the Commanders are a far better spot than the Patriots. And based on his comments above, it sounds like he wants to stay in Washington.
But the Patriots should at least make the call to the Commanders and assess the situation. New England has a lackluster receiving corps and desperately needs an elite playmaker of McLaurin’s caliber.