What Mike Williams’ extension with Chargers means for Terry McLaurin

The Washington Commanders need help at wide receiver. After three straight seasons of watching a running back finish second on the team in receptions, the front office appears motivated to add reinforcements.

Per The Athletic’s Ben Standig, the Commanders could consider making a marquee signing at the position if the right deal presents itself. It’s unclear what ambitions Washington has set for itself, but it hurts that Davante Adams, Chris Godwin and Mike Williams are off the market after Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline.

While Adams and Godwin were tagged by their respective teams, Williams and the Chargers beat the deadline by agreeing to a monster three-year, $60 million extension, which includes a whopping $40 million in guaranteed money.

This contract blows away the projections experts had set for Williams entering the offseason and we can’t help but wonder what impact his deal will have on the Commanders’ negotiations with phenom Terry McLaurin.

Could Mike Williams’ extension affect the Commanders’ contract negotiations with Terry McLaurin?

We’re all aware that extending McLaurin this offseason is a top priority for Washington, and Williams’ newly-minted deal should motivate Ron Rivera and the front office to reach an agreement before another big-name WR signs.

For a quick reminder, Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf and AJ Brown are all extension-eligible this offseason. You have to think they’re salivating after watching Williams, who’s struggled with injuries and consistency in his career before breaking out in 2021, become a top-five highest-earning receiver based on AAV.

Pro Football Focus had previously estimated McLaurin’s extension at four years, $75 million. That $18.75 annual average value would be a shade under Williams’ $20 million and place McLaurin eighth at the position behind DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, Williams, Amari Cooper (release pending), Michael Thomas and Chris Godwin.

While McLaurin doesn’t quite have the track record of those studs, his representatives are surely aware of the context behind it.

For starters, McLaurin’s QB play has far and away been the worst of those receivers. Despite catching passes from six different quarterbacks over his first three years, he’s posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons while accounting for 16 touchdowns,141 first downs and a 1.18 WAR.

Speaking of that 1.18 WAR (wins above replacement), only five wideouts since 2006 have tallied a higher WAR than McLaurin over their first three seasons, per PFF. The names? Hopkins, Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and AJ Green.

Bottom line is McLaurin knows his value and it’s only going to skyrocket once other receivers from the loaded 2019 class (Metcalf, Brown, Deebo), sign their deals. Taking Williams’ extension into account, though, it wouldn’t be shocking if McLaurin pushed for something in between $18.75 million and $20 million.

Whatever ends up happening, Williams signing for $20 million annually with $40 million guaranteed has set an enormous bar for the WR market this offseason, so Washington better get a move on with McLaurin’s extension.