The protracted contract dispute between the Washington Commanders and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin took a sharp turn today when Ian Rapoport of NFL Network revealed that McLaurin has asked for a trade. Given the Pro Bowl receiver’s protracted hold-in, the report may indicate a serious breakdown in the two parties’ negotiations.
Rapoport cited sources that claim the trade request is the result of contract negotiations not moving forward. In an attempt to squeeze the organization into a new contract without incurring penalties for a complete holdout, McLaurin has not participated in on-field exercises since the beginning of training camp. This most recent development suggests that the strategy has not produced the expected outcomes, prompting a more dramatic step—a trade request.
Although the request is a typical negotiating strategy, the impasse in the negotiations has caused increasing irritation. McLaurin signed a three-year, $68.2 million deal in 2022, and he is presently in the last year of it. Even though he has been a reliable member of the Commander’s team, topping 1,000 receiving yards five times in a row, his current contract pays him far less than the highest wide receiver salary in the league.
McLaurin is reportedly looking for a deal that would pay him over $30 million annually, which would place him among the highest-paid pass-catchers in the league, according to reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
This news poses a serious problem for the Commanders. The team’s new management, which includes head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, has stated time and again that they want to retain McLaurin for the long run. The front staff must choose between meeting McLaurin’s requests, risking losing a vital player, or engaging in trade talks that could drastically change the team’s offensive plans now that the trade request is public.
