NFL insider reveals just how far apart Commanders and Terry McLaurin really are

The shockwaves of Terry McLaurin's trade request are still reverberating around the Washington Commanders fan base. Micah Parsons' power play took the headlines soon after, but it remains a precarious situation between the wide receiver and the franchise.

There is a difference of opinion, to put it mildly. McLaurin reportedly wants more than $30 million per season. The Commanders are reluctant to allocate that to a player who'll be 30 years old in September. Drastic measures have been taken throughout the summer, but no significant progress has been made.

Both sides are dug in. The Commanders have no intention of trading McLaurin, especially with the team primed for a Super Bowl challenge in 2025. Even so, general manager Adam Peters wants the price to come down before rubber-stamping any agreement.

NFL insider still hopeful for a successful compromise between the Commanders and Terry McLaurin

This relationship is fractured. McLaurin feels slighted, and Peters is doing what he believes is best for the team's long-term future. Concern is growing among the Washington football loyalists, but Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated believes there is still hope to shift things positively.

The senior insider acknowledged that it's a tough situation, with McLaurin's frustration growing and the Commanders having their own valuation of the market. However, things need to speed up to ensure the former third-round pick out of Ohio State is ready to hit the ground running when the regular season begins.

"I don't think the Terry McLaurin/Commanders situation is irreparable. But the sides went over a month without talking and there's been little progress since. There's a divide across the board (APY, guarantees, etc.) that needs to be bridged. Can it be? Sure. But... McLaurin's willingness to do this is a sure sign of his frustration. Tried a holdout. Then a hold-in. Now this. None of it's easy for a dude who's been the ultimate program guy. The Commanders, meanwhile, have tried to stay disciplined on valuing players. It's a tough situation."

Compromise is key. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much of that throughout this drawn-out saga.

McLaurin's trade request was another way to pile on the pressure. Even so, Peters is composed enough to let this play out accordingly without removing one of his primary pass-catchers from the equation.

If this had been the previous owner, McLaurin would have had his money long ago. But Peters is always thinking about the bigger picture. He is running the Commanders like a business, removing sentiment from the equation. That's the correct approach, even if he's coming under fire for his perceived poor treatment of such a beloved figure.

Hopefully, something gets resolved sooner rather than later. Because the ramifications could be severe if things drag on any longer.

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