Terry McLaurin helped lift Washington into the playoffs last year. Short of Jayden Daniels, he was their most important player. But he’s ready to get paid.
McLaurin skipped most of the offseason work, and he wasn’t at the recent mandatory minicamp. He’s looking for a new contract.
McLaurin is entering the final year of a three-year extension that’s worth $68 million. While an average of almost $23 million is nothing to sneeze at, he’s underpaid now, given the shift in the market. Tee Higgins signed a four-year deal averaging almost $29 million, and McLaurin can argue he’s better.
I would expect the Commanders will adjust McLaurin’s contract at some point. They’ve added Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil in the offseason, but McLaurin remains key to their plans. I don’t think Washington would want to send Daniels out for this second season without his No. 1 option.
McLaurin finished last season with 82 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s a true No. 1 receiver, with the speed to get deep for long touchdowns and the route-running chops to get open in more congested situations. He caught 7 TDs inside the 10-yard line last year – 3 more than in his previous five seasons combined.
McLaurin is also one of only two wide receivers who hasn’t missed a game the last four years.
Including the postseason, McLaurin last year scored only almost 17 percent of his catches. That’s No. 2 among wide receivers with at least 50 catches.
He’s for real, and I would expect the Commanders will want to put his contract issues behind them before August.
| TOUCHDOWN PERCENTAGE, WIDE RECEIVERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD | TD% |
| 1. | Rashod Bateman, Balt. | 51 | 846 | 16.6 | 11 | 21.6% |
| 2. | Terry McLaurin, Was. | 96 | 1,323 | 13.8 | 16 | 16.7% |
| 3. | Mike Evans, T.B. | 81 | 1,096 | 13.5 | 12 | 14.8% |
| 4. | Quentin Johnston, LAC | 55 | 711 | 12.9 | 8 | 14.5% |
| 5. | Tee Higgins, Cin. | 73 | 911 | 12.5 | 10 | 13.7% |
| 6. | Jordan Addison, Min. | 66 | 904 | 13.7 | 9 | 13.6% |
| 7. | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 127 | 1,708 | 13.4 | 17 | 13.4% |
| 8. | Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 62 | 885 | 14.3 | 8 | 12.9% |
| 9. | Jameson Williams, Det. | 59 | 1,020 | 17.3 | 7 | 11.9% |
| 10. | Xavier Worthy, K.C. | 78 | 925 | 11.9 | 9 | 11.5% |
| 11. | Brian Thomas, Jac. | 87 | 1,282 | 14.7 | 10 | 11.5% |
| 12. | A.J. Brown, Phil. | 79 | 1,242 | 15.7 | 9 | 11.4% |
| 13. | DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 84 | 1,023 | 12.2 | 9 | 10.7% |
| 14. | DeAndre Hopkins, 2tms | 59 | 639 | 10.8 | 6 | 10.2% |
| 15. | Jayden Reed, G.B. | 59 | 903 | 15.3 | 6 | 10.2% |
| 16. | Keenan Allen, Chi. | 70 | 744 | 10.6 | 7 | 10.0% |
| 17. | Nico Collins, Hou. | 80 | 1,209 | 15.1 | 8 | 10.0% |
| 18. | Chris Godwin, T.B. | 50 | 576 | 11.5 | 5 | 10.0% |
| 19. | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 123 | 1,400 | 11.4 | 12 | 9.8% |
| 20. | Davante Adams, 2tms | 85 | 1,063 | 12.5 | 8 | 9.4% |
| 21. | Courtland Sutton, Den. | 86 | 1,156 | 13.4 | 8 | 9.3% |
| 22. | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 108 | 1,591 | 14.7 | 10 | 9.3% |
| 23. | Drake London, Atl. | 100 | 1,271 | 12.7 | 9 | 9.0% |
| 24. | Ladd McConkey, LAC | 91 | 1,346 | 14.8 | 8 | 8.8% |
| 25. | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 73 | 800 | 11.0 | 6 | 8.2% |
| 26. | Amari Cooper, 2tms | 50 | 588 | 11.8 | 4 | 8.0% |
| 27. | Darnell Mooney, Atl. | 64 | 992 | 15.5 | 5 | 7.8% |
| 28. | Jauan Jennings, S.F. | 77 | 975 | 12.7 | 6 | 7.8% |
| 29. | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 66 | 992 | 15.0 | 5 | 7.6% |
| 30. | Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 81 | 959 | 11.8 | 6 | 7.4% |
| 31. | Josh Downs, Ind. | 72 | 803 | 11.2 | 5 | 6.9% |
| 32. | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 101 | 1,104 | 10.9 | 7 | 6.9% |
| 33. | Malik Nabers, NYG | 109 | 1,204 | 11.0 | 7 | 6.4% |
| 34. | George Pickens, Pitt. | 64 | 987 | 15.4 | 4 | 6.3% |
| 35. | Calvin Ridley, Ten. | 64 | 1,017 | 15.9 | 4 | 6.3% |
| 36. | DJ Moore, Chi. | 98 | 966 | 9.9 | 6 | 6.1% |
| 37. | Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea. | 100 | 1,130 | 11.3 | 6 | 6.0% |
| 38. | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 101 | 1,194 | 11.8 | 6 | 5.9% |
| 39. | Tank Dell, Hou. | 51 | 667 | 13.1 | 3 | 5.9% |
| 40. | Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 51 | 670 | 13.1 | 3 | 5.9% |
| 41. | Olamide Zaccheaus, Was. | 52 | 551 | 10.6 | 3 | 5.8% |
| 42. | Rome Odunze, Chi. | 54 | 734 | 13.6 | 3 | 5.6% |
| 43. | Zay Flowers, Balt. | 74 | 1,059 | 14.3 | 4 | 5.4% |
| 44. | Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 87 | 1,027 | 11.8 | 4 | 4.6% |
| 45. | Demario Douglas, N.E. | 66 | 621 | 9.4 | 3 | 4.5% |
| 46. | Jerry Jeudy, Cle. | 90 | 1,229 | 13.7 | 4 | 4.4% |
| 47. | Michael Pittman, Ind. | 69 | 808 | 11.7 | 3 | 4.3% |
| 48. | Khalil Shakir, Buff. | 94 | 995 | 10.6 | 4 | 4.3% |
| 49. | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 58 | 744 | 12.8 | 2 | 3.4% |
| 50. | Puka Nacua, LAR | 90 | 1,131 | 12.6 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 51. | Wan'Dale Robinson, NYG | 93 | 699 | 7.5 | 3 | 3.2% |
| 52. | Elijah Moore, Cle. | 61 | 538 | 8.8 | 1 | 1.6% |
| 53. | Ray-Ray McCloud, Atl. | 62 | 686 | 11.1 | 1 | 1.6% |
—Ian Allan