Dating back to minicamp, one major ongoing storyline for the Washington Commanders has been Terry McLaurin’s holdout. As he and the organization try to rectify the situation, he did not hold back with his thoughts on how things have unfolded.
McLaurin is in the final year of his contract and is eager for a long-term commitment from the franchise. This comes on the heels of an impressive 2024 campaign where he notched 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns. Despite being such a key piece of the roster, the two sides have been unable to come to terms on a new deal.
In light of contract negotiations, McLaurin decided to remove himself from the team during minicamp. While recently voicing his frustrations, he tossed out the idea of not partaking in training camp as well.
“I haven’t decided that yet,” McLaurin said of how he’ll approach training camp, according to The Athletic. “I’m trying to take things day by day and that’s the disappointing part. I was hoping up until this point things would clear up a lot more than they have. I haven’t made that decision yet, I’m just going to see how the rest of this week goes and take it day by day and go from there. I’m not making any declarations of one way or another but I’m just kind of speaking on how it’s made me feel, how this offseason’s been, the frustrations I’ve felt, that’s all true.”
Throughout this entire ordeal, McLaurin’s main point has been getting fair value in terms of the market. Top-tier receivers have seen a noticeable pay increase in recent years, and given his consistent production for the Commanders, he feels he is worthy of a deal similar to his counterparts.
“I know I’m deserving of what I’m asking for and I’m willing to stand firm on that,” he continued. “Just have to see where it goes from there. They feel how they feel and I feel how I feel. You hope you can come to some understanding and common ground. I’m not a combative person, but I am someone who’s going to stand on my worth and know what I bring to a team. It’s not because of, ‘Oh I feel that way,’ it’s because what I’ve proven year to year.”
With veterans set to arrive at camp in a week, the Commanders are in danger of this situation hanging over their heads as the team begins its ramp-up for the 2025 season.
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