Terry McLaurin Contract: Commanders Star WR Signs Three-year, $96 Million Extension

After weeks of tension that included fines, a brief holdout-turned-hold-in, and even a trade request, the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin have agreed on a three-year extension worth up to $96 million, multiple reports confirm.

The deal, negotiated by agents Buddy Baker and Tony Bonagura, includes a $30 million signing bonus and carries an average annual value of $32 million, tying McLaurin with Eagles star A.J. Brown as the sixth-highest-paid wideout in the league. The extension keeps Washington’s WR1 under contract through the 2028 season.

A Price Tag Years in the Making

McLaurin had made his frustration public in July, telling reporters the Commanders hadn’t spoken to his camp in over a month. He later requested a trade on July 31, though Washington never seriously entertained the idea. The standoff led to more than $300,000 in fines for missed practices and minicamp, as well as a brief stint on the PUP list with an ankle issue.

Still, the Commanders ultimately rewarded their most consistent offensive player since his arrival in 2019. The market had tilted in McLaurin’s favor this offseason, especially after DK Metcalf secured a four-year, $132 million deal with the Steelers and Garrett Wilson landed a four-year, $130 million extension with the Jets.

Washington’s front office initially hesitated given McLaurin’s age — he will be 31 when this new deal begins — but his production and importance to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ development made the decision clear.

By the Numbers

McLaurin is coming off his second Pro Bowl season, recording 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and a franchise-record 13 touchdowns in 2024. Nearly 45 percent of Washington’s receiving touchdowns came from him, the third-highest team share in the NFL.

Since entering the league, McLaurin has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in five consecutive seasons, amassed 6,379 career yards to rank sixth in franchise history, and become one of only six players in NFL history to post at least 900 yards in each of his first six years. Daniels, last year’s NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year, thrived when targeting him. According to ESPN, his QBR spiked to 90.6 on passes to McLaurin, and six of his 12 explosive completions of 30 yards or more went to the veteran wideout.

Big-Game Performer

McLaurin’s value was never clearer than during Washington’s surprise run to the NFC Championship Game last season. He caught touchdowns in each of the team’s three playoff games, including a seven-catch, 89-yard outing against Tampa Bay in the Wild Card Round and an 87-yard performance in the upset of the top-seeded Lions.

Looking Ahead

The extension guarantees that Washington’s dynamic duo of Daniels and McLaurin will stay intact as the Commanders enter the 2025 season with their highest expectations since the early 1990s. At BetMGM, only five teams currently have shorter Super Bowl odds.

For McLaurin, the deal provides both validation and long-term security. For Washington, it represents a bet that their leader in the locker room and on the field still has elite years ahead.