For the first time in a long time, the Washington Commanders made headlines for all the right reasons Tuesday. Washington re-signed wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a three-year extension, and suddenly all felt right with the Commanders.
For Washington, this was the right move. In fact, it was the only move.
People can argue where McLaurin ranks among the NFL’s top wide receivers. Some will say he’s not in the top 10, but now he’s paid like one of the best — and deservedly so.
The full terms of McLaurin’s new deal are $71 million over three years, including a $28 million signing bonus, with over 76% of the contract fully guaranteed. Is that a lot of money? Sure, but McLaurin is worth every penny and more.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers traded star receivers Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams, respectively. Sure, maybe McLaurin isn’t quite at that level, but his situation is vastly different. The Commanders don’t have a lot of goodwill with their fans. Right now, team owner Daniel Snyder is battling Congress. McLaurin is not only a star on the field but also beloved by coaches, players and fans. Washington fans may not agree on much, but all agree on McLaurin’s value to the franchise.
Heading into the offseason, Washington’s two biggest priorities outside of finding a new name were upgrading the quarterback position and locking down McLaurin to a long-term extension. The Commanders accomplished both and should be applauded.
Defensive tackle and fellow team captain Jonathan Allen called into 106.7 The Fan in Washington after news broke of McLaurin’s extension and discussed why it was important for Washington to reward McLaurin. Allen said the locker room notices when you reward the guys who’ve done everything right. McLaurin is a phenomenal player, but he’s also an exceptional person and leader. There are no excuses for not rewarding players like that.
How could head coach Ron Rivera look his team in the face if Washington failed to reach a long-term deal with McLaurin? That’s telling your players that we aren’t giving you big money regardless of what you do here. That’s why losing organizations remain losing organizations. Re-signing Allen and McLaurin in back-to-back offseason should excite fans. These players deserved to be paid — and paid well.
At some point, things have to change, and perhaps sometime in the foreseeable future, the Commanders and Rivera can point to paying McLaurin as a catalyst for change.
Washington could not afford to franchise McLaurin next offseason. Once that happened, McLaurin was as good as gone. Look no further than Kirk Cousins and Brandon Scherff. But McLaurin is different. He wanted to be in Washington. Cousins and Scherff did not, regardless of what they said. However, once you receive that franchise tag, there’s little reason to negotiate with your team. Make them tag you twice, then enter free agency.
Another franchise tag dance would’ve been brutal for the Commanders.
Washington could’ve given McLaurin even more money, and most would say it was the right decision. The Commanders couldn’t lose McLaurin. McLaurin and his agent knew the team’s position. Yet both sides worked to get a deal done.
Tuesday was a good day for the Washington Commanders, their fans and Terry McLaurin.