The Washington Commanders have one primary goal left to accomplish before the start of the 2025 season.
And it centers around All-Pro receiver Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin is coming off a career year in 2024. He was the top target for rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels and was a key star in Washington's surprise run to the NFC Championship Game.
The Commanders may not have won that one - Philadelphia did, to advance to and win the Super Bowl - but McLaurin and Daniels' partnership was an essential building block for the franchise's future.
Things have taken a southwardly turn during the offseason, though. McLaurin is entering the final year of his contract with Washington and has pushed for a long-term extension.
The problem is obviously that to this point the Commanders haven't given their receiver the kind of contract offer worthy of his superstar status.
CBS Sports, in particular, believes that McLaurin won't be able to receive the kind of top-five receiver money he is looking for.
"A pay raise is coming, but how much will the Commanders pay?" CBS Sports said. "A.J. Brown is the fifth-highest paid receiver at $32 million a season. McLaurin likely won't get that much, but $30 million a season (Tyreek Hill and Amon-Ra St. Brown make that much) is in the realm of possibility.
"McLaurin should get top-10 money for his position. Highly unlikely he'll be in the top-five range."
Let's tap the brakes here.
What CBS has just done is suggest that McLaurin is somehow demanding to be a "top-five'' guy ... and we don't know that to be the case at all.
We've all guessed at the $30 million APY number - but it's nothing more than a guess.
The Ohio State product sat out of mandatory minicamp this offseason, a sign that the veteran is willing to force the organization's hand. ... which would be bad training camp news.
Washington is a much better bet to win a Super Bowl this year with McLaurin. ... obiously. The team can celebrate about Deebo Samuel's arrival via trade, but the former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro isn't the kind of No. 1 threat McLaurin has become.
They must resolve this contract saga with their superstar, and they will. In the meantime, we should be careful to not make guesses that turn into rumors.