It’s been musical chairs at quarterback for the first three years of Terry McLaurin’s NFL career. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, Kyle Allen, Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith, Case Keenum and Colt McCoy.
The former Ohio State Buckeye wide receiver drafted in the third round in the 2019 NFL Draft has been one of the few consistent performers for Washington over the last three seasons (2019-21). Those three seasons with unpredictable and unreliable quarterback play have resulted in 58, 87 and 77 receptions for McLaurin.
Speculation rose this past week, that with McLaurin not yet signed to a new deal, that perhaps he is frustrated with all of the uncertainty at quarterback and is going to play out his contract and become an unrestricted free agent following the completion of the 2022 season. More than a couple of radio segments in the DMV were heard to be devoted to whether the Commanders should go ahead and trade McLaurin now, rather than risk losing him to free agency.
This past week was also historic regarding the NFL wide receiver market being completely reset. Davante Adams was sent to the Raiders. with a new contract of $28.5 million per year. A few days later Tyreek Hill was sent to the Dolphins, who coughed up a mere $30 million.
Suddenly, Washington’s leading wide receiver’s value shot up at least $5 million dollars per year. Washington has already signed Curtis Samuel to his free-agent deal in 2021. Would it be wise for Washington to re-sign Terry and also draft a wide receiver in the first round? Might they draft a receiver in the first round only to not plan on McLaurin for 2023?
With the skyrocketing of wide receiver contracts in the last week, McLaurin could be looking at anywhere from $20-22 million per year. That is if Washington wants to pay that much to McLaurin.
What do I know? But hasn’t McLaurin proven himself where rookies have not? Hasn’t McLaurin shown himself not only to be talented but a team player, a captain on the field and in the locker room?
Here’s to hoping the Commanders management believes in paying their own proven leaders the large contracts. After all, they can always trade back in numerous drafts collecting more players earning the much more economical rookie contracts.