Hogs Haven
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season and offseason, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
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One position group (of many) that is filled with question marks heading into 2025 is wide receivers. In fact, only two receivers from the ‘24 roster — Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey — are currently under contract for 2025 (and McLaurin is entering the final year of his current contract, which has a 2026 void year for salary cap purposes).
In 2024, the Commanders made do with a rotating cast of receivers playing opposite Terry McLaurin as Noah Brown, Jamison Crowder, Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown each stepped up for one or more games to add significant yards and touchdowns to the team’s efforts and box scores. One possible takeaway from the success the team enjoyed is that this kind of “#2 receiver by committee” is a workable (and salary cap friendly) plan. Not everyone would agree, however, with many fans dreaming of the possibilities of putting a top-tier veteran receiver like Tee Higgins opposite Terry. One discussion that hasn’t gotten a lot of pixels or air time so far this offseason is the thought of looking for that bookend receiver in the draft.
It would appear that Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have numerous options when it comes to removing the skin from this particular cat.
Terry McLaurin is now a crusty 30-year-old 6-year veteran who just got married. For a 3rd round pick who was drafted for his special teams skills, Scary Terry has put together a remarkable career — and he isn’t done yet.
McLaurin is in the final year of his contract (which has a 2026 void year for salary cap purposes). I haven’t yet seen a Washington fan who wants to move on from Terry, who is among the most popular players to have worn the burgundy & gold in the last quarter century. It seems inevitable that Adam Peters will extend McLaurin, who is the very definition of what Commanders football should mean.
Luke McCaffrey is the only other receiver from the 2024 Commanders roster who remains under contract for 2025 (though three receivers — Kazmeir Allen, Mike Strachan and Chris Moore — have signed future contracts). Fans will be hoping that McCaffrey will be able to take ‘the next step’ in his development in his second season in the NFL, advancing on his rookie production of 18 catches for 168 yards.
Noah Brown, Jamison Crowder, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown and KJ Osborn are all impending free agents. I don’t expect Osborn to be re-signed, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see one or all of the other four brought back for training camp. If I...
