Terry McLaurin's contract battle with the Washington Commanders became a distraction this team didn't need over the summer. It also left analysts and rivals wondering if it left head coach Dan Quinn's squad vulnerable to regression after a phenomenal 2024 campaign.
Think again.
The Commanders ended a long saga with McLaurin by giving the wide receiver a three-year, $96 million extension with a $30 million signing bonus. Much will depend on the guarantees attached, which haven't been disclosed yet, but fans won't care who came out a winner. All they care about is getting the second-team All-Pro back onto the practice field with Week 1 against the New York Giants on the immediate horizon.
Commanders return to normality after long-awaited Terry McLaurin extension
And just like that, everything returned to normal. Great news for the Commanders, but bad news for anyone hoping McLaurin's unhappiness would be an advantage to capitalize on.
Everybody wins, apart from those standing in the Commanders' path this season.
There are much bigger expectations on the Commanders' shoulders this season. They became the league's surprise package last time around, surging from the proverbial wilderness into the NFC Championship game in the blink of an eye. Although falling one hurdle short of the Super Bowl was disappointing, an aggressive offseason from general manager Adam Peters could mean another bold playoff bid won't be too far behind in 2025.
Having a dissatisfied McLaurin threatened to jeopardize this ambition. The offense hasn't been the same without him over the summer. Questions about the quality of depth at the receiver spot came under the microscope. But with the wideout signed and Noah Brown also on track to be available in Week 1, all signs are pointing up once again.
Unseating the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles within their division will be the sternest challenge. Teams will be better prepared for what the Commanders are going to throw at them, but there is enough firepower on both sides of the football to keep complications to a minimum.
Everyone got what they wanted in the end. McLaurin's deal is yet another major statement of intent from the Commanders. They are not a fleeting success story. Last season's remarkable accomplishments are the start of a profitable new era for the franchise, and the wideout will be at the beating heart of everything good for the foreseeable future.
And with McLaurin happy with the financial security he was looking for, there is nothing the Commanders cannot accomplish.
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