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Terry McLaurin’s holdout continues but Commanders fans should stay calm

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Ryan McCafferty | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 12:00 PM ET

Few organizations in the NFL have more good things going for them right now than the Washington Commanders. But there is one dark cloud hanging over the franchise this offseason.

On the field, they're coming off a season in which sensational NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels led a stunning run to the NFC Championship game. Away from the gridiron, they have landed a deal for a new stadium to be completed by 2030 and the rights to host the draft in 2027.

Unfortunately, a rather unnerving development has dominated the Commanders in recent weeks, and it comes from perhaps the most unlikely candidate to cause drama.

Second-team All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been absent from offseason activity thus far. He's seeking an extension to a contract that will expire in 2026. Nothing has been agreed upon as yet, and frustrations are reportedly building.

That said, Washington fans shouldn't be rushing to hit the panic button — at least, not yet.

Terry McLaurin's contract holdout with Commanders is common practice (for now)

McLaurin is far from the first player in NFL history to hold out of offseason workouts to gain leverage in contract talks. He certainly isn't going to be the last, either.

It is simply a product of the standard negotiating process, and no indication has been made that the star wideout is unhappy in Washington. McLaurin has not asked for a trade. Any speculation that the Commanders should entertain one can stop right now.

Most insiders in Washington remain unconcerned. The Commanders have too much momentum on their side to screw this up, and the way their offense is currently structured gives the former third-round pick out of Ohio State the best situation of his career.

Smart from @SWhyno about Terry missing minicamp: "This is part of the negotiating process. The time I would worry is if we havent heard from Terry McLaurin by late July at training camp. Not in early June."
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) June 10, 2025

Not only does McLaurin finally have a quality quarterback with whom he has built immediate chemistry, but the team brought in former All-Pro Deebo Samuel Sr. this offseason. This gives him a playmaking partner on the opposite side of the field who can take pressure off.

It is also still extremely early in the offseason. Training camp doesn't start until mid-July, and some holdouts have been known to go on even longer than that before still ultimately ending on positive terms.

Knowing the professional McLaurin is and has been throughout his career, he won't want to drag this out for too long. Make no mistake, he won't want to risk becoming a distraction and letting down his teammates.

McLaurin knows what he is doing. Right now, we're at a stage in the calendar where it's completely fair for him to do everything in his power to get what's best for himself. Until that changes, there is nothing to be overly anxious about.