The Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin remain far apart on a new contract. McLaurin is set to enter the final year of the three-year extension he signed in 2022 and wants to be paid what he feels he’s worth.

The target for McLaurin is reportedly the contract DK Metcalf signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason. After trading for Metcalf, Pittsburgh signed him to an extension with an average annual value of $33 million per season. That contract put Metcalf behind only Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, all of whom are superior players. McLaurin can also make the case that he’s superior to Metcalf.

The sticking point from Washington’s side of things is McLaurin’s age. He’ll be 30 next month. The history of teams signing receivers over 30 to big-money extensions isn’t good. There is a belief that McLaurin would be different, but that still doesn’t change anything. The concern is real. The Commanders believe McLaurin should receive a contract in the neighborhood of what future Hall of Famer Mike Evans received last year. Evans signed a two-year, $52 million deal.

Everyone believes a deal will get done. But many believed a deal would already be done. McLaurin lacks the leverage here, regardless of what some will tell you. The Commanders can force McLaurin to play next season on the final year of his current deal and apply the franchise tag in 2026.

Washington wouldn’t actually do this, would they?

It doesn’t sound like a move GM Adam Peters would make. If you follow Peters’ history in San Francisco, these types of deals would often be resolved just before the season began.

McLaurin wants a new deal — and from Washington. Don’t let the trade request fool you. McLaurin wants to remain with the Commanders. The one outcome that McLaurin does not want is the franchise tag. If Washington applied the tag, he would be tied to the team for the next two seasons. Under the franchise tag, McLaurin would receive a raise, quite possibly to a level that the Commanders didn’t want to pay before. However, it could be a one-year deal, and then Washington could cut McLaurin loose after 2026, when he will be heading into his age-32 season (2027). A long-term deal then would be next to impossible for McLaurin at the rate he currently seeks.

The Commanders are facing their first complex negotiation since Josh Harris purchased the team two years ago. Not only is it a big-money deal, but it’s with a player who is beloved by his teammates, coaches, and the fan base. Washington fans appreciate McLaurin for his production and professionalism through the first six years of his career. He did everything right. Produced. Never complained and treated everyone with respect.

The Commanders should do right by McLaurin, however, within reason. It doesn’t matter what field you are in; you are not paid for what you’ve done in the past, but for what you’re projected to do in the future.

A franchise tag would be hard to swallow for either side, especially McLaurin. It’s ultimately why these two sides must get together face-to-face and work toward a new deal where both sides can feel like they won. No one said it would be easy, but it can be done.