Washington Commanders fans are feeling a bit uneasy as star wide receiver Terry McLaurin missed Wednesday’s OTA practice, a concerning shift from his full participation earlier, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. With one year left on his three-year, $68.2 million extension signed in 2022, McLaurin’s absence is raising eyebrows, especially since skipping OTAs is a classic move for players pushing for a new contract. At 29, “Scary Terry” is coming off a career-best 2024 season—82 catches, 1,096 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 17 games, plus a second Pro Bowl nod—and his role in the Commanders’ Cinderella run to the NFC Championship makes this a critical moment for the team to lock him up.
McLaurin’s been the model of consistency since 2019, never dipping below 58 catches or 919 yards in a season and hitting 70-plus receptions and 1,000 yards every year since his rookie campaign. Last season, he was the go-to target for rookie phenom Jayden Daniels, helping Washington to a 12-5 record, their first playoff win in 19 years, and a stunning NFC Championship appearance, despite a blowout loss to the Eagles. In the postseason, McLaurin was electric, hauling in 14 catches for 227 yards and three touchdowns, including a seven-catch, 89-yard gem in the Wild Card win over Tampa Bay.
If this absence is about his contract, the Commanders need to act fast. McLaurin stuck with the team through its darkest days, when they were scraping the NFL’s basement, and now, with a championship window open thanks to Daniels and a stout defense (3rd in points allowed in 2024), he’s earned a raise. His market value, pegged at around $25 million per year, is reasonable for a player of his caliber—think Justin Jefferson’s $35 million annually as the high end. A new deal could keep him in D.C. through his prime, avoiding a distraction that could derail a team with Super Bowl hopes.
Picture McLaurin and Daniels torching defenses at Northwest Stadium, building on their 2024 chemistry (Daniels targeted him 117 times). Letting this linger risks fracturing that bond and the locker room’s mojo. Fans are anxious, but the solution’s simple: pay the man who’s been your rock. With OTAs ongoing and Phase 3 of the offseason program starting soon, the Commanders should get McLaurin’s extension done before training camp. That way, “Scary Terry” can focus on scaring secondaries, not sparking holdout headlines. For his full 2024 stats, check the card above.
