Why Commanders Must Be Very Careful With Terry McLaurin Extension
Why Commanders Must Be Very Careful With Terry McLaurin Extension originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
It's a mistake made by many teams around the league.
Organizations become so loyal to particular players that they look to give them large contract extensions even when they are past their prime or otherwise slightly unworthy.
Advertisement
Sometimes, teams extend a player to a long-term deal only to watch their production fall off a cliff after a few years.
That's a lesson the Washington Commanders know they must be careful with regarding Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
The Ohio State product is entering the final year of his contract with Washington, and is coming off his best season. He recorded a career-high 13 touchdowns with rookie phenom Jayden Daniels throwing him the football.
McLaurin is going to be 30 years old by the time the 2025 season begins, though. While he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down just yet, a decline can happen to any aging player.
Advertisement
If Washington is going to give their top receiver a long-term extension, they want to make sure they have enough protection on their own end where they won't be hurt by the cap if McLaurin's production dips.
It is about a contract with escapability.
Add it all up?
And it's a good enough reason for the receiver to be frustrated with how contract talks have gone.
Washington could be in deep trouble if they extend McLaurin and his Pro Bowl production isn't matched as he gets older. Giving him an extension in the $30 million APY range without the Commanders providing themselves an Eventual out may do more harm than good for the team in the long term.
Advertisement
That doesn't mean McLaurin isn't worthy of an extension; he absolutely is.
It just means Washington needs to be extra careful how they spend their money now and over the next few years. … with a compromise here being the eventual best answer.
Related: Commanders Fans Laugh at Giants OTAs Fight in Bizarre Take
Related: Commanders' Veteran Entering 'Make-Or-Break' Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
34 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Cavaliers' Darius Garland has surgery on the injured left big toe that hampered him during playoffs
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland had surgery Monday on the injured left big toe that hampered him during Cleveland's exit from the playoffs. The Cavaliers said the procedure was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, in consultation with team physician Dr. James Rosneck and Dr. Bob Anderson. The All-Star guard missed the final two games of the regular season and four games during the playoffs with the injury, which was described as a sprain. 'Definitely wasn't myself. It was pretty uncomfortable but trying to do everything to win the game. It was frustrating because I wasn't 100 percent,' Garland said after the Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Garland is expected to send 4 to 5 months going through a progression of treatment and rehabilitation before resuming basketball activities by the start of training camp. Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season to help the Cavs finish atop the Eastern Conference. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys Ex Amari Cooper Might Be 'Done' Barring Major Training Camp Change
Cowboys Ex Amari Cooper Might Be 'Done' Barring Major Training Camp Change originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - It's a weird thing to note about a guy who has been to the Pro Bowl five times, but the track record says it's true: The acquisitions of Amari Cooper, every time, never quite work out very well. Advertisement The Amari move of 2019? Nope, it didn't work out the way the Dallas Cowboys envisioned. Close, but no cigar. His time in Cleveland, where Dallas trade-dumped him? Nope, because the Browns eventually turned around and did the same with him in moving him to Buffalo. And that 2024 midseason Amari trade? That didn't work out the way the Bills has envisioned it, either, with the big-name never really taking off in Joe Brady's offense. Granted, Cooper came in midseason and then had an injury, which isn't ideal when you are coming to a new team, as Amari was playing catch-up the entire time. So he's a free agent. And has been for months. Advertisement Teams that might've had an interest - including the teams that know him best - have gone in the other direction. The Cowboys had a need at wideout and so they traded for George Pickens. The Bills had a need at wideout and so they signed Joshua Palmer. ... and then they signed Elijah Moore, who used to play third fiddle to Amari in Cleveland. USA Today has been among the outlets not understanding what's happening here, recently writing, "He offers a veteran presence and consistency for a team searching for a proven player to add to their receiving room." That's what some in the media and some NFL fans think. Advertisement But as Amari turns 31 this month, the NFL is telling you - and him - their truth. Consider this telling review from one of his own former coaches from earlier this offseason. "Amari is done. That's not me talking," NFL insider Matthew Berry of NBC Sports posted on X. "That's from an offensive coach of a former team of his I spoke to at the combine." Is that true? Dallas is aware of what we at the time called "shrinkage,'' when Amari simply didn't come up big enough in big moments. Buffalo had to think about the production that Amari gave them last year as Cooper totaled just 297 yards and two touchdowns from 20 receptions in eight regular-season games and had six games for 41 yards in three playoff outings. ... in a postseason during which he was essentially benched. Advertisement When we add this fact, that in six of his Bills games, while playing with MVP QB Josh Allen, he had 12 or fewer yards? We're not saying Amari Cooper is done. But pending some team maybe calling him as a training camp move due to roster injury? The NFL is sort of saying Amari Cooper is done. Related: Josh Allen Making An Impact at Bills OTAs Despite Absence Related: Cowboys' Pickens Makes Official Jersey Number Change This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Eagles to be featured on HBO this season as Hard Knocks goes In-Season with the NFC East
The NFC East is the most challenging division in the NFL, and things will ratchet up dramatically this season. The season will start with four potential 2025 playoff teams and many storylines. As HBO's Hard Knocks takes an inside, in-season look at this historical division, fans will now have an up-close look at the Eagles, Commanders, Cowboys, and Giants' quest for a division title. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles to make their debut on Hard Knocks in'season with the NFC East
