McLaurin frustrated by status of contract talks

Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin said he's frustrated and disappointed with the lack of progress toward a contract extension, saying they're entering crunch time to get a new deal done.

McLaurin, talking to reporters after shooting a commercial Tuesday, said "without any progress in discussions it's kind of hard to see how I step on the field."

However, McLaurin also said he wasn't pushing for a trade and that, "I want to be here. I want to make that abundantly clear."

But, he said, "it takes two to tango."

McLaurin is in the final year of a three-year, $68 million extension he signed in 2022. He has been Washington's top receiver since entering the NFL as a third-round pick in 2019 and has topped 1,000 yards for five consecutive seasons.

"With how the market is today it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of. I feel I fit in that box because of how I've carried myself on and off the field. I don't want to feel like you have to beg for someone to see your worth and value. Everything in previous regimes and now I've done everything asked of me." Terry McLaurin

He said no negotiations have taken place over the past month. The Commanders have not commented on the negotiations other than general manager Adam Peters stressing in the offseason that they wanted to extend McLaurin's deal.

"It's obviously the compensation, but it's kind of like the confusion," McLaurin said. "All year you feel like you're a part of something. You earned the right to be a captain.

"When you have that type of production, when you know how people value you and see you have told you to your face and then you see how it's progressing until this point, that's very disappointing. I'm just trying to get some clarity. Shoot it to me straight."

He said they're not at a point of "no return" but later said, "I guess you can say there is a point of no return. I don't think it's at that now but ... time is kind of ticking."

McLaurin skipped the two weeks of voluntary spring practices open to the media -- after attending the earlier workouts -- as well as the three-day mandatory minicamp in June. He incurred $104,768 in fines for missing minicamp.

McLaurin turns 30 in September, an age when receivers' production often starts to diminish, which can make teams reluctant to sign them to lucrative long-term contracts. However, McLaurin is entering only his seventh season and coming off arguably his most productive year with a career-best 13 touchdowns, second most in the NFL. He caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards.

He was named to his second Pro Bowl.

McLaurin hasn't missed a game since the 2020 season but said that because he wasn't a full-time player at Ohio State until later in his tenure, coupled with being in only his NFL seventh season, "there's not a lot of tread on my tires."

"I'm not dismissing [age] completely," he said. "There are data points to support that, but how come it's not OK to say this may be a different case and based on what he's proven, showing no signs of deterioration, I feel that should be acknowledged as well."

He then pointed out how he took a slant 36 yards for a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"People making it seem like I need to start getting fitted for a walker and a cane," McLaurin said. "My game is going to mature in a great way."

Two prominent receivers have signed extensions this offseason that average at least $32.5 million per year: the Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf, who was in the same draft class as McLaurin, and the New York Jets' Garrett Wilson, who like McLaurin played at Ohio State.

Wilson received $90 million in guaranteed money, while Metcalf got $60 million. Metcalf is two years younger than McLaurin, and Wilson turns 25 next week.

"You do want to feel valued and appreciated," McLaurin said. "With how the market is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of. I feel I fit in that box because of how I've carried myself on and off the field. I don't want to feel like you have to beg for someone to see your worth and value. Everything in previous regimes and now I've done everything asked of me."

McLaurin served as the face of the franchise during the turbulent final years of the Dan Snyder regime, often getting asked difficult questions about the state of the organization.

"When things were adverse when there was a lot of chaos going on, I held firm, I held strong," McLaurin said. "I held my head high and I was a leader. I'm going to continue to do that."

McLaurin and quarterback Jayden Daniels displayed strong chemistry last season. The two frequently communicated, whether on the field or via text, about their games and strategy. McLaurin said he has heard from the second-year quarterback.

"We've had a lot of great conversations, and I'll keep the specifics between us. It's great to have his support and to know he has my back and see how we've grown in our relationship," McLaurin said. "I truly believe we need each other."

McLaurin has 460 receptions with 38 touchdowns for his career. Since he was drafted in 2019, McLaurin has caught the 11th-most passes and 13th-most touchdowns by a receiver.