Terry McLaurin, Commanders agree on $71M extension

Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders hammered out a brand new contract for the star receiver, ending the staff’s largest football-related saga of a tumultuous offseason a month earlier than coaching camp begins.

McLaurin agreed to phrases on a three-year contract, in accordance with two folks with data of the transfer who spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity Tuesday as a result of the deal had not been introduced.

One particular person confirmed the brand new deal is price as much as $71 million with roughly $53 million assured, together with a $28 million signing bonus. According to Spotrac, it’s the best signing bonus for a receiver, barely greater than the $27.5 million DeAndre Hopkins acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.

McLaurin, who turns 27 in September, had one yr left on his rookie contract and skipped offseason workouts whereas negotiations had been ongoing. Coach Ron Rivera expressed confidence a few deal getting accomplished all through these exercises regardless of McLaurin’s absence.

“It is rarely contentious,” Rivera mentioned lately about negotiations with McLaurin’s camp. “I can promise you that a lot. So, we’re feeling fairly good and fairly assured in some unspecified time in the future, this can get accomplished.”

A 3rd-round decide in 2019, McLaurin has grow to be Washington’s finest participant since breaking into the NFL three years in the past. The Ohio State product has 222 catches for 3,090 yards and 16 touchdowns in 46 regular-season video games — all whereas taking part in with eight completely different quarterbacks.

“Terry’s a man that you just wish to construct a staff round,” defensive deal with Jonathan Allen mentioned final month. “He represents every little thing we wish to construct right here.”

With this new contract, which was first reported by NFL Network, that’s precisely what the Commanders are doing.

With the goal of stabilizing the quarterback scenario, they acquired Carson Wentz from Indianapolis in March and hope he develops chemistry with McLaurin and fellow wideouts Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown and first-round decide Jahan Dotson.

McLaurin lacking voluntary organized staff actions and obligatory minicamp signifies that course of will begin in earnest when coaching camp opens in late July. Rivera insisted he wasn’t frightened about how these missed snaps will damage McLaurin and Wentz.

“That’s not an enormous concern for a few causes,” Rivera mentioned. “Terry’s an expert and so is Carson. And they’ll get their time, their alternative to work collectively as soon as we get into the coaching camp. I imagine that.”

Getting a deal accomplished with McLaurin completes crucial process on Washington’s offseason to-do checklist. It’s additionally a optimistic on-field growth for a company that has been coping with several off-field issues, from a Congressional investigation into the staff’s office tradition that has zeroed in on owner Dan Snyder to defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s comments downplaying the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol that drew a $100,000 fine and an ongoing seek for a brand new stadium website that has so far proven unsuccessful.

It additionally scratches off the potential for a significant camp distraction. After experiences emerged about McLaurin agreeing to phrases, working again Antonio Gibson tweeted: “Thank you.. I used to be getting uninterested in that query #BigPaid.”

Reporting by the Associated Press