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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages

Commanders' huge Terry McLaurin bet shows ultimate faith in Jayden Daniels

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By James Dudko | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 3:00 PM ET

Adam Peters blinked first, but he didn't do it for Terry McLaurin.

The Washington Commanders general manager paid up to keep his star wide receiver for one reason only: Jayden Daniels.

Peters got over those concerns about McLaurin's age. Those concerns about how much the wideout should be paid relative to his peers, because the front-office leader knows you don't waste a star quarterback.

Daniels is a true phenom, even if his one season is a small sample size. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but the franchise has been here before. Think Robert Griffin III and the memorable 2012 campaign, but there are differences.

Commanders did right by Terry McLaurin, and he can thank Jayden Daniels

The main difference is that Daniels is already streets ahead of Griffin as a passer. Last year's No. 2 overall pick is calmer and more accurate under pressure and can still beat coverage in obvious passing situations. This was evidenced by completing 60.5 percent of his passes and throwing 10 touchdowns on third downs.

Griffin wasn't ticking those boxes even when his dual-threat skills had every defender in the league running scared and chasing shadows. Daniels is only going to get better, so Peters couldn't let his QB1 enter the next phase of his development without his go-to target.

Letting McLaurin continue his 1,000-yard receiving streak in Washington ensures Daniels has a marquee vertical playmaker who wins outside the numbers. He can beat man coverage and make the tough catches, so he'll turn even desperate heaves into big plays.

This 32-yard scoring connection against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16 was a great example of what having McLaurin means for Daniels. It means a young signal-caller has a receiver he can trust to win with speed and track the ball deep.

JAYDEN DANIELS DIME TO TERRY MCLAURIN.

: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/lpjGqVqn9f
— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024

That sudden-strike capability is crucial for any quarterback, but even the best at the position need their safety valves. Daniels has one of those in the form of ageing tight end Zach Ertz, but McLaurin is something different.

He's the alpha Daniels wants to look for in the critical moments. Every great player under center has one of those. Joe Montana and Steve Young didn't care who was covering Jerry Rice when the pressure was on. Peyton Manning wore out his connection with Marvin Harrison Sr. Patrick Mahomes started his path to the ranks of the elite with the Kansas City Chiefs by trusting his arm to find Tyreek Hill over the top.

McLaurin has the same significance for Daniels, but a true No. 1 receiver is only part of what a franchise quarterback needs.

A great quarterback can make even average receivers look good. Even so, stacking talent around a true field general is the surest route to becoming a contender every year and lifting at least one Vince Lombardi trophy.

That's the assignment for Peters: to surround Daniels with as many playmakers as possible. Extending McLaurin goes a long way, even after the Commanders traded for All-Pro Deebo Samuel Sr. and used a fourth-round draft pick on the explosive Jaylin Lane.

The presence of Samuel, Lane, Ertz, and veteran pass-catching running back Austin Ekeler might've made it seem like the Commanders could continue playing hardball with McLaurin. Yet, that would have been short-sighted.

Smart teams with generational talents at football's most important position know better. Nobody wants to waste a difference-making quarterback with inferior supporting acts. Better to load up on weapons.

Montana and Young were tethered to Rice, but they also appreciated John Taylor, Brent Jones, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, Ricky Watters, and William Floyd. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots already knew Tom Brady was good, but he was great once they added Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

Manning broke Brady's points record when he had Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Julius Thomas around him six years later. Hill alone wouldn't have been enough to turn Mahomes into this generation's all-time great, so it helped to have Travis Kelce as an annual Pro Bowler at tight end, while proven names like JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins also helped at different times.

A more recent example shows the enduring value of surrounding the man who throws the passes with dynamic skill players. Sam Darnold wouldn't have unleashed a career breakout last season if the Minnesota Vikings didn't have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison catching passes and 1,100-yard running back Aaron Jones to carry the ball.

Great quarterbacks don't win on an island, and securing McLaurin's future shows this is a lesson Peters knows well. So does the trade for Samuel and premium blindside protector Laremy Tunsil.

Reaching an agreement with McLaurin is the finishing touch on the Commanders' backing of Daniels to the hilt. They've done everything they can to make sure his spectacular debut campaign won't be a fluke.