McLaurin is in the the final season of a three-year deal, set to make $15.2 million in base salary and is currently the 17th-highest-paid wide receiver in terms of average annual salary.
Coming off the best season of a six-year career in which he’s never failed to lead Washington in receiving yards, McLaurin has been seeking an extension more on par with his production after hauling in 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns on 82 receptions.
He skipped the Commanders’ organized team activities and mandatory minicamp and didn’t initially report to training camp. The 29-year-old showed up on Sunday and was placed on the physically unable to perform list, and his presence presented an opportunity for talks to hopefully pick up.
Instead, McLaurin’s trade request came before the week was through.
His latest move certainly cracks the door a bit more for a departure, but by no means does it guarantee a trade takes place.
Even as Quinn stays out of that aspect of running a team, he is well aware such a request stems from the business side of football, and he’s taking an even-keel approach to the situation.
“Sometimes, those are the emotions and that’s the human side of it,” he said. “Knowing there can be emotions, that’s the ones he attached to at that moment. For me as the coach, give the support, give the insights, do you want advice? That’s the way that you do it. But it is an emotional time. It’s so damn important and each player, it won’t be quite the same in how that’s happening.
“I just try to not judge it as best I can, and it’s not always that easy to do knowing it’s an emotional time. Our times together are intense for different reasons. Sometimes it’s the competitive intensity, other times it’s something like this where you’re just, ahh, and you’re feeling some kind of way. So I just try to make sure, man, support the players as best I can knowing they’re accessing emotions that are hard.”
As Quinn leads the Commanders through their preparation for his second season at the helm, under the weight of far greater expectations following a 12-win campaign, he’s also making sure to strike a supportive, neutral tone for the off-the-field part of the equation.