The Washington Commanders are running out of time to work out a long-term extension with two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin, 29, was selected by the Commanders in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been everything the franchise could’ve hoped for, racking up 6,379 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns over the past six seasons. In 2024, he hauled in 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Ohio State product played a pivotal role in the team’s run to the NFC Championship Game.
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With only one year remaining on McLaurin’s current contract, he’s hoping to land a significant raise from the Commanders. Will that happen though? Only time will tell, but Washington’s front office did just ship out one of its top offensive playmakers.
On Friday afternoon, the Commanders traded running back Brian Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick. The Alabama product had 2,916 total yards and 20 touchdowns during his time in the nation’s capital.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Commanders have agreed to take on some of the $3.4 million owed to Robinson.
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Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) reacts after a play with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
What does this trade mean for McLaurin?
There’s no guarantee the Commanders will work out an extension with McLaurin, but Friday’s trade has fans convinced that a deal will get done. After all, the front office just made it clear that Robinson won’t be part of their future.
We can’t imagine the Commanders are willing to get rid of McLaurin and Robinson in the same offseason. That would be counterproductive for a team trying to build around second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
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Working out a deal with McLaurin would also make life easier for Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who wants to see the veteran wideout back on the field soon.
“There hasn’t been a ton of contact with him,” Kingsbury said last Friday. “He’s been here, but he’s been working with trainers, so until he gets back on the grass, that’s when we’ll start building that back up.”
By getting rid of Robinson, the Commanders have opted to go cheap at running back. We don’t expect them to do the same at wide receiver.
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We’ll see if the Commanders strike a deal with McLaurin before their season opener against the New York Giants.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.