Finally, this most anticipated season can begin.
Not since 2013 have there been such expectations in the DMV for the Washington Commanders. That was because the 2012 team had won its last seven regular-season games to finish 10-6 before losing to Seattle in the playoffs.
The 2024 team was coming off a miserable 4-13 season, marked by several embarrassing blowouts. GM Adam Peters would overhaul the roster, drafting Jayden Daniels, and the Commanders did the unthinkable, finishing 12-5, before winning two road playoff games.
Now, Terry McLaurin has signed his deal, and the DMV can again be optimistic regarding what this year’s team might be able to achieve. The negotiations between McLaurin and the Commanders were difficult and strained. Feelings were hurt, and public relations strategies were formed. On Monday, the announcement came that a deal had been agreed upon, with figures reported indicating a three-year extension for $96 million.
For now, we don’t know the exact numbers, but two numbers do provide some insight. ESPN’s Adam Schefter had reported that McLaurin wanted considerably more than D.K. Metcalf’s contract, which brought him an APY of $33M. Thus, this weekend, McLaurin and his agent Buddy Baker finally saw the reality of the situation and accepted the fact that Terry was not going to receive Metcalf money.
Secondly, McLaurin, going into his age-30 season (September 15), also received one less year than did Metcalf. Thus, Terry’s extension is for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons. 2028 will be McLaurin’s age-33 season, and Commanders GM Adam Peters appears to have held his ground on the duration of the contract. As for the money, we don’t know the details, but Peters did come toward Terry, yet did not provide Metcalf money, nor considerably more.
To this point, no evidence has arisen that the Commanders ever attempted to trade McLaurin. Even more, it might very well be that they never even took McLaurin’s trade request seriously. They wanted to bring back McLaurin for another few years with Jayden Daniels. However, they were not going to pay McLaurin just because he felt they were disrespecting him. They thought he was a good receiver, but not one of the first-tier elites in the NFL. Thus, they waited until McLaurin and Baker accepted reality.
All we know is there is a $30M signing bonus, and the APY comes to $32M. We wait to see if any of that guaranteed money carries over to 2027. If not, recall that Jonathan Allen had no guaranteed money left, and the Commanders released him, allowing him to sign elsewhere. The most likely scenario seems to be that the 2028 season will not have any guaranteed money.
All the fan base can now breathe a sigh of relief. Was the ankle injured? We don’t know, but if McLaurin is out there for Wednesday’s practice, it significantly increases the odds that McLaurin will be ready for the opener, September 7 at home against the New York Giants.
The dispute wasn’t pretty, and we are all glad it is settled. Welcome back, Terry. Let the 2025 season begin.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders, Terry McLaurin and the Washington fans can move forward
