Trade Demands from Terry McLaurin
Things have taken a twist for the Washington Commanders as star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who had been held back during training camp, reportedly asked for a trade.
As of now, the team and McLaurin haven’t started discussions on contract extensions. On Thursday, McLaurin expressed that he wants something more from his current situation.
While there were speculations that McLaurin’s trade demands stemmed from his contract status, he did show up to training camp earlier this week. He is currently listed on the active/PUP list because of an ankle injury.
Having accumulated over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons, McLaurin is still in the middle of a $71 million contract he signed in 2022. He’s aiming to be counted among the top receivers in the league and I think he believes around $32 million per season would achieve that.
If he signs a deal at that average annual value, it will place him just outside the highest tier of NFL receivers. Currently, players like Ja’Marr Chase with the Cincinnati Bengals, Justin Jefferson from the Minnesota Vikings, and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys lead the pay rankings.
McLaurin’s asking price seems to align closely with DK Metcalf from the Pittsburgh Steelers ($33 million per season), Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets ($32.5 million), and A.J. Brown with the Philadelphia Eagles ($32 million). It’s worth noting, though, that Metcalf is two years younger than him, though they come from the same draft class and their stats are fairly comparable.
Metcalf has recorded 438 catches and 48 touchdowns over 6,324 yards during his time with the Seattle Seahawks, while McLaurin has achieved 460 receptions for 6,379 yards with 38 touchdowns.
Interestingly, McLaurin opted to forgo his first four-day training camp, which would have incurred a fine of $50,000 per day. By attending camp, he avoids fines from Washington.
Multiple sources indicate that the Commanders have no plans to trade McLaurin. GM Adam Peters remarked on the first day of training camp that he’d like to expedite matters, but things don’t always go as planned.
“We recognize his talent and, regardless of the negotiations, he’s essential to the team,” Peters mentioned.
