Commanders have one more box to check when it comes to turning the corner and it involves Terry McLaurin's new deal

Harris, to his credit, has talked a lot about the culture he wants to instill for the Commanders franchise and thus far put his money where his mouth is in that regard. But player relations should garner special attention in Washington, given how bad things were under Dan Snyder. Remember, Washington fumbled the best offensive lineman in football in Trent Williams in part because of Snyder’s abrasive approach.

Williams was looking for a new contract in Washington and held out into the regular season. Upon a potential return, he couldn't put on a helmet due to scar tissue from the removal of a cancerous growth on his head. He missed the 2019 season when it was all said and done. Snyder allegedly showed no remorse throughout Williams’ absence from the team and rolled up nearly $2 million in fines against Williams despite the medical diagnosis — one that Williams contested was misdiagnosed by team doctors.

"We could have resigned (Trent Williams). He's an elite player. He's a great football player…And Dan (Snyder) said no. He said, ‘Not one dime. Fine him the max." - Former Washington executive Bruce Allen

It isn’t necessarily fair to measure Harris’ Commanders against Snyder’s era of owning the team. But McLaurin saw it firsthand. His rookie season was in 2019 as the Williams saga was unfolding. Not many players can say that these days, although Jeremy Reaves, DaRon Payne, and Tress Way all preceded McLaurin on the roster and remain.

McLaurin, as a remnant of that old regime, makes Washington’s opportunity to handle business entering into a contract year unique. If their star receiver is serious about securing a new deal, what better way for a Harris-owned Washington franchise to ace another test of good culture than to expeditiously iron out a new contract? Or, at the very least, agree to disagree amicably until a compromise can be found.

Nothing we’ve seen from Washington under Josh Harris suggests that this situation, regardless of the details, will get off the rails. But until McLaurin comes out and states he’s not seeking a new deal this summer or one is finalized, it will loom as Washington’s next big test of a new chapter under new ownership. Should the Commanders get something done, McLaurin could help further infuse belief in the direction this organization is headed by speaking to his experiences versus what he saw from those who came before him.

And that is a nice extra incentive for Washington to reward McLaurin for his performance and get a new deal done sooner rather than later.