Terry McLaurin contract details show Commanders outsmarted everyone

Terry McLaurin's agent had his day when the Washington Commanders gave him the privilege of leaking and revealing certain aspects of the wide receiver's lucrative contract extension. But the full details paint a completely different picture.

McLaurin and Buddy Baker won the battle. But make no mistake, Adam Peters and the Commanders won the war.

It was a long standoff between McLaurin and the Commanders to reach this point. The wideout reportedly wanted money that Peters wasn't going to match. Everything from holdouts to a trade request came to Washington's door, and the general manager didn't budge an inch.

Terry McLaurin contract details look favorable for the Commanders

Peters knew the deal he wanted for the Commanders. He knew McLaurin's importance, but the front-office leader also wanted an agreement that protected the organization's interests long-term. And when the tide began to turn against the former third-round pick out of Ohio State, he eventually came down.

McLaurin signed a three-year deal that could be worth up to $96 million. Baker revealed that it came with a $30 million signing bonus, which works as a positive for him. But a closer look at the details makes this an undoubted win for Peters.

According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, the base value of McLaurin's deal is $87 million. Only $44 million is guaranteed initially, which rises to $50 million before the 2028 campaign. There are also reachable incentives based on receiving yards, receptions, touchdowns accumulated, Pro Bowl appearances, and success in the playoffs.

The base annual average salary is $29 million. That is far less than the $34 million or more Baker wanted for McLaurin, which was the figure being reported that almost saw Peters cut off talks on the spot.

This also has some protections in case McLaurin's performance levels regress. It's exactly what the Commanders wanted. And if the two-time Pro Bowler is also happy with the terms, that's a win-win for everybody.

Nobody cares who won or lost here. Fans care about winning, and having McLaurin on the field gets them a lot closer. Even so, this is another fine example of how the Commanders are in the best possible hands with Peters leading the charge.

Various reports around the league suggested that Baker was in over his head if he thought Peters would bow to his demands. Other agents and league personnel are not going to push the boundaries moving forward with Washington's ruthless leader, that's for sure.

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