The Washington Commanders hype train has come to a temporary stop after an outstanding offseason. Washington left no doubts about their intentions for 2025, aggressively pursing trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil while adding elsewhere through the draft and free agency to a core that made the NFC Championship Game last season.
Their last few months of work has contributed to one immediate end goal: maximizing on the early years of Jayden Daniels. The Commanders showed last season they have the capacity to contend with and beat some of the NFC's top competition.
Now, they have added more weapons and infrastructure around their quarterback to help strengthen their case. However, this reload has taken an unexpected turn with one of Washington's veteran stars.
The Commanders' No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin has awaited a contract extension and thus far the two sides have not reached a deal. McLaurin has reportedly grown frustrated with the lack of progress over the last few months and has taken things to the next level.
McLaurin will not be in attendance for the Commanders' mandatory minicamp this week, beginning a holdout in earnest for his extension according to NFL media's Ian Rapoport. The three days of absence will mark up a series of fines that total over $100,000.
The dollars and sense here? Serious ... and potentially ugly.
The All-Pro receiver has contributed consistent output since being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. McLaurin has totaled 1,000 yards in each of the last five seasons, finishing just four yards shy of that benchmark in his rookie season.
McLaurin's next deal will likely put him over $30 million per year comfortably in the league's top 10 annual salaries for receivers.
Part of the intrigue in the trade for Samuel specifically rested in pairing McLaurin with a strong No. 2, something the Commanders offense lacked a year ago. But with the No. 1 pass catcher out of action, that duo is temporarily in question.