Commanders' Terry McLaurin may have gained millions in leverage after preseason rout

Courtland Sutton’s contract extension with the Denver Broncos in July was believed to have cost Terry McLaurin millions in his negotiations with the Washington Commanders. 

However, he may have added millions back after the Commanders’ first preseason game.

Per The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala, McLaurin gained leverage after the New England Patriots’ 48-18 beatdown of Washington on Friday night.

“Still, he had possibly the best night of any player on Friday,” Jhabvala wrote of McLaurin. “While McLaurin initially seemed to have minimal leverage as he sought a new deal — he has a year left on his current contract and will soon turn 30, an age when receivers start to have a dip in production and an uptick in injuries — he has one clear bargaining chip now: The Commanders’ lack of depth and top-tier talent at receiver…

“Even with more reps, a leader has yet to stand out from the rest of Washington’s receiving corps. And their performance on Friday wasn’t pretty.”

In the blowout loss, the Commanders’ receivers mirrored how they’ve performed during the preseason, and it’s a troubling sign before Week 1.

With expected starters McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown out, key depth pieces like Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore and K.J. Osborn combined for three catches for 13 yards.

Dropped passes and poor route running didn’t help quarterbacks Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman move the ball against the Patriots.

Rookie undrafted free agent Ja'Corey Brooks led Washington in receiving with five catches for 59 yards.

The Commanders need McLaurin on the field this season, and they need him to gain chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels as soon as possible in the preseason.

Washington needs to bite the bullet and find a way to end McLaurin’s holdout, even if it means paying him substantially more money than the Broncos gave Sutton.