League source believes there’s a magic number for the Commanders and Terry McLaurin deal to get done, but would it be enough?
Can both sides meet in the middle and get the deal done?
The Terry McLaurin saga has dragged on for much longer than expected, and the season is just under a month away for the Washington Commanders.
We haven’t had a real update on the situation since McLaurin requested a trade on July 31st. McLaurin and Adam Peter were seen talking on the side practice field on Tuesday, and maybe talks will start to pick up soon, but has anything changed?
We do know that the Commanders and McLaurin haven’t been on the same page with their number, but one league source believes there’s a number that gets the deal done for both sides.
Both sides meet in the middle
There have been reports and rumors about what number each side is looking for, and the numbers haven’t been close at all. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the Commanders are “slightly above where he was before”, which is $23 million per year, while Adam Schefter stated that McLaurin is likely looking close to what D.K. Metcalf makes, which is $33 million per year.
One league source told ESPN’s John Keim that they think both sides can meet in the middle at $28 million and get a deal done.
“One league source said he could see the Commanders eventually agreeing to pay $28 million per year — but would that be enough? According to various reports and multiple sources, DK Metcalf’s contract has served as a guide for McLaurin — though whether that’s in terms of average per year ($33 million) or total guarantees ($60 million) remains uncertain.” – John Keim
The guaranteed money is likely a major factor that both sides are caught up in as well. This is McLaurin’s last major contract of his career, and he’s missing out on a lot of career earnings compared to other wide receivers due to his age when he entered the draft. It’s understandable to want as much as possible after proving your worth, but you always have to realize the Commanders’ side.
Age is a major factor
A contract that size is going to increase in cap hit every year, and his cap hit will be its highest when he’s at his oldest. It’s just not ideal from a business standpoint unless he’s producing at a level like he did last season. For context, Metcalf received a 4-year extension, and he will have a $41.5 million cap hit when he turns 32.
The issue for McLaurin is that he’s about to turn 30 at the start of the season, and he will be 33 going into his final and most expensive year of a 3-year extension. The Commanders want to prepare for what he’s going to look like in the next three years, while McLaurin wants to be rewarded for how he’s playing now, which he believes will continue.
I’m not sure if $28 million a year is enough for McLaurin, but the Commanders can increase their guaranteed amount and front-load the contract to make it seem more appealing. The clock is ticking, however, and the Commanders do have all the financial leverage with McLaurin under contract still, but the right thing to do is to get a deal done and not let this drag on or franchise tag him after the season.
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