by Ben Standig Mar 31, 2025 12:23 PM
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Washington Commanders spent significant assets this offseason on outside talent to bolster the weaponry around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Next, they will work to keep wide receiver Terry McLaurin around for several years.
“The short answer is we want to make Terry a Commander for a long time,” Washington’s general manager Adam Peters said Monday at the NFL’s owners’ meeting.
In his first comments since the start of free agency, Peters addressed many topics, including preliminary extension talks with representatives for the record-breaking receiver.
McLaurin delivered the best work of his six-year career in 2024 as Washington surprised the league with 12 regular-season wins and a run to the NFC Championship Game. Though McLaurin remains under contract through the upcoming season, his price tag continues to rise after establishing a new franchise mark with 13 touchdown receptions and one in each of the team’s three playoff games.
“He’s a great Commander. He got better and better as the season went on, not only as a player, but as a leader,” Peters said during a conversation with local reporters. “It was really impressive to see him grow so much. You think of Terry as this pristine, polished player, but then he got even better, so it’s really cool. Everybody can get better, even the great ones.”
McLaurin has continued his upward trajectory since entering the league as a third-round selection by Washington in 2019 and signing a three-year extension for $69.6 million in 2022. The receiver market has since soared. His $23.2 million annual average salary ranks 16th among his positional peers. Multiyear extensions for DK Metcalf ($32.99 million) and Tee Higgins ($28.75 million) pushed those receivers into the top 10.
The two sides have not discussed specific extension numbers, according to a league source close to the situation, but finalizing terms is the common goal. Somewhere between Metcalf and Higgins may become the starting point. Peters declined to say whether agreeing to terms by the start of the regular season or another calendar marker is the goal. McLaurin held out during offseason workouts in 2022 before signing the extension.
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