Training camp for the Washington Commanders is starting up soon, and Terry McLaurin has yet to agree to a contract extension.
McLaurin, coming off the best year of his career, is entering the final year of his contract extension that he signed in 2022. He has skipped both voluntary and mandatory workouts this summer and is likely to sit out of training camp if he does not reach a deal.
So, is it time to panic? No— at least not yet.
This is not the first time that McLaurin has held out.
Back in 2022, with McLaurin’s first extension, he also missed the voluntary and mandatory workouts before signing his three-year extension a few weeks before training camp. This time around, it is much closer to the beginning of training camp, but there is still time before veterans report to Ashburn on July 22.
Holding out has become common practice for NFL stars. It is not because they are divas holding teams hostage; they are negotiating for what they think they are worth and do not want to get injured during that process. In recent years, stars like CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, and Chris Jones all sat out while negotiating a new contract.
McLaurin is not the first, and will not be the last, to sit out.
Commanders have the money.
For the 2026 season, the Commanders have just over $65 million in cap space available. With McLaurin reportedly seeking between $30–35 million annually, general manager Adam Peters could create additional space through restructures or roster moves if necessary to re-sign McLaurin while also tending to other areas of the roster.
It should be noted that since Jayden Daniels is on his rookie contract, the Commanders can leverage that fact to pay McLaurin, since they are not paying top dollar for a quarterback.
McLaurin is more than just a great player.
The front office knows that McLaurin is more than just an excellent football player. He is a leader both on the field and in the community. With the Terry McLaurin Foundation, he has helped underserved children in the D.C. area. He is beloved by the fans, and the front office knows how much it would pain fans to see him in a different uniform.
While it’s fair for the front office to be cautious about committing top-tier money to a wide receiver entering his age-30 season, McLaurin’s impact — both culturally and athletically — justifies the investment. He’s played through 13 different starting quarterbacks, three franchise name changes, and an ownership overhaul, all without ever becoming a distraction.
McLaurin has done everything right; now it is time for the Commanders to do right by him.
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