Terry McLaurin's new deal represents organizational change for Commanders

There's no doubting the fact that the Washington Commanders have a checkered past.

Name-change aside, Congress (yes, Congress) has been investigating owner Dan Snyder due to allegations of a workplace environment known to foster sexual harassment. Snyder is also being investigated due to allegations of financial impropriety by his organization.

That's a ton of hot water for the Commanders, yet somehow, head coach Ron Rivera has to field a team each week and try to win as many games as he can.

Washington traded for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz earlier this offseason in hopes of finally finding a stable quarterback to lead the way under center. Locking up wideout Terry McLaurin was big step number two in the offseason plan, and the Commanders accomplished that earlier this week by signing the speedy wideout to a three-year deal worth up to $71M.

The new deal for McLaurin was more than just a football move, though. In fact, according to Rivera, it had just as much to do with Washington's off-the-field reputation as anything.

"He's an organizational signing," Rivera said, according to John Keim of ESPN. "It impacts not just the football side but the business side. It tells people we want to retain young men of this stature; we want young men of this magnitude out there representing our organization.

"We're going forward," Rivera continued. "We're changing things. We're trying to do the best we can. I know some people don't think it matters, but it does matter. It shows you can change, you can adapt, you can make things better. You can correct your mistakes, and that's what we're doing. We're correcting our mistakes; we're getting a lot of support."

McLaurin clearly has a great reputation within the Washington organization, but he's also worth every penny on the field for the Commanders.

Despite a rotation door of quarterbacks throwing to him, McLaurin has put up two 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons in a row.