The Washington Commanders have created a potential juggernaut and a legit Super Bowl contender. Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels is on the verge of superstardom and under GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn - also entering their second year here - DC is very much headed in the right direction.
One obstacle staring them in the face?
The situation with receiver Terry McLaurin, set to be a free agent in 2026 and still without his desired contract extension as late-July training camp approaches.
As McLaurin held out of mandatory minicamp assorted experts have weighed in. Collectively, they seem unworried about the eventuality of a deal getting done.
But when? And how much?
“Wake me up if there’s no new agreement before training camp,” Commanders insider Ben Standig wrote. “Unless McLaurin’s age (30 in September) becomes an outsized factor — Tyreek Hill (31) is the only receiver among the 15 highest paid older than the 2024 second-team All-Pro — the eventual deal will likely fall somewhere between annual salaries for Tee Higgins ($28.75 million) and D.K. Metcalf ($33 million).”
From our own Mike Fisher: "He's been a good soldier and a good player - 13 TD catches last year says a lot - and has every reason to ask for a three-year deal at $100 million total.''
And via 106.7 The Fan, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said contract negotiations with McLaurin's camp will likely start at $30 million per year.
"McLaurin - no matter who plays QB - goes has gone for 1,000 receiving yards in five sttaight seasons. He's a two-time Pro Bowler who can easily make the argument that as wideout salaries skyrocket, he belongs in the top-10 group financially at the position.
A prolonged holdout that costs him a fortune? We don't see that.
The Commanders budging so that aforementioned obstacle is eliminated? We do see that.