On the surface, it shouldn’t be that hard for McLaurin and the Commanders to reach an agreement since the wide receiver market is well-defined. Age is surely an important consideration for the Commanders. McLaurin played his first NFL season in 2019 as a 24-year-old rookie. He turns 30 on Sept. 15.
Getting a deal done is going to require the Commanders acknowledging that McLaurin is a No. 1 wide receiver and should be paid accordingly. McLaurin is the primary receiving threat on the Commanders. He led the Commanders with 117 targets in 2024.
The Commanders designating McLaurin as a franchise player in 2026 if he plays out his contract won’t be cheap.