Terry McLaurin and the Commanders don’t seem too close to reaching an agreement on a new contract, according to a recent ESPN report.
The network’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler appeared on Get Up on Thursday morning to discuss the latest surrounding the drama in D.C., and he painted a picture of two sides dug deep in their own positioning, and a wide gap still in between them with just weeks to go until the start of the season.
“They have been far apart,” Fowler said. “I'll put it this way. He has wanted metrics of the DK Metcalf contract, which is $32 million.
I'm told the Washington Commanders have only been slightly above where he was from before, which is $23 million. So take that gap, that's $7 to 8 million that they have to bridge, and Washington, I'm told, has got some calls about McLaurin. There's some interest league wide.”
The reported interest in McLaurin is no surprise, as nearly any team would do their due diligence and check in on the availability of a WR1 that allegedly wants a change of scenery. It also shouldn’t be a shock that Washington is reportedly not interested in entertaining trade calls, though it does seem like their stance will have to change if a deal is to be made. The reported $23 million from Fowler would be on the lower side for a receiver of McLaurin’s caliber, especially with the ever-growing salary cap.
On the flip side, $32 million could be a tall ask from the 29-year-old’s camp, and both sides will likely have to each give a little and meet somewhere in the middle to end McLaurin’s hold-in and get him back on the field to prepare for one of the most hyped Commanders seasons in recent memory.