Pro Football Rumors
The Commanders are not close to an extension agreement with Terry McLaurin. Tuesday has brought about the latest illustration of that point.
With McLaurin having already departed voluntary practices this spring, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports he is now absent from mandatory minicamp. That represents a repeat of how things played out in 2022 when the Pro Bowl wideout skipped both OTAs and minicamp before ultimately working out an extension. A third contract has long been known to be a team priority, but plenty of work still needs to be done at the negotiating table.
McLaurin is currently owed a $15.5MM base salary for 2025, the final year of his deal. A raise bringing him closer to the top of the receiver market would increase his upfront earnings while also likely lowering his $25.5MM cap charge. The 29-year-old is electing not to collect a $500K workout bonus by choosing to remain absent from minicamp, something which will create over $104K in fines if he remains absent for all three days.
Throughout his six-year tenure in the nation’s capital, McLaurin has been a focal point on offense. The former third-rounder nearly reached 1,000 yards as a rookie, and he has topped that mark every time since. In 2024 – quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign – he caught 13 touchdown passes after his previous career high was seven. Keeping the Daniels-McLaurin tandem in place for years to come would represent a logical goal for the Commanders.
It has become increasingly clear recently that an agreement is not close in this situation, however. After remaining away from the team during his first round of extension talks, McLaurin wound up signing a three-year deal with an average annual value of $23.2MM. That figure now ranks 16th amongst receivers, and the position’s market has also seen a notable jump in terms of guarantees. A McLaurin raise will no doubt entail a fresh round of locked in compensation, but questions will now linger until at least the start of training camp regarding when it will be finalized.
Washington made a notable receiver addition by trading for Deebo Samuel this offseason. The former 49ers All-Pro reworked his deal upon arrival, but he is still a pending 2026 free agent. The same will hold true of McLaurin until progress is made on the extension front.
