3 potential Terry McLaurin trade partners if contract talks go awry

The Washington Commanders are over a week into OTAs, and there’s fittingly non-football storylines that are overshadowing what’s taking place on the field. The biggest distraction, for lack of a better term? Terry McLaurin’s absence.

McLaurin hasn’t been with the team since before the draft and reports indicate the star wideout doesn’t plan on participating in offseason workouts/practices until his contract situation his resolved. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and is deserving of a contract worth upwards of $20-23 million annually.

Fans aren’t panicked, as the Commanders realize the urgency behind getting McLaurin signed long-term, but that could change once training camp approaches and there’s been no reported progression in negotiations.

Trading the 2019 third-round pick is obviously the doomsday scenario, but Washington must consider any and all scenarios. At this point, nobody, not even Ron Rivera or Martin Mayhew, can rule out unloading McLaurin for draft picks.

In the horrifying event that contract negotiations go off the rails and the Commanders are forced to trade the beloved receiver, these three teams feel like the safest bets to show the most interest in getting a deal done.

3 Terry McLaurin trade destinations if contract talks go awry

3. Green Bay Packers

The Packers would rank higher on this list, as acquiring McLaurin would really catapult their Super Bowl odds. However, the Commanders would likely be reluctant to trade McLaurin with in the conference (they’ll play Green Bay for the second year in a row in 2022). That’s just how front offices operate.

You might say, “The Packers just traded Davante Adams. Why would they trade for another star receiver and subsequently give him a huge contract?” It’s a fair question, but they tried moving heaven and earth to extend Adams before trading him to the Raiders. Per reports, Adams rejected a proposal that would’ve paid him more than $23 million annually, which would’ve been the highest-ever for a WR.

At the end of the day, Adams, a lifelong Raiders fan, wanted out of Green Bay and to reunite with former Boise State teammate Derek Carr. Going out of your way not to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers is a puzzling move, but the Packers seemingly weren’t at fault for this earth-shattering divorce.

Green Bay drafted Christian Watson in the second round this year, but its receiving corps still lacks a true No. 1, as the oft-injured Sammy Watkins, an aging Randall Cobb and former undrafted free agent Allen Lazard are Rodgers’ top targets.

It’s unclear if the Packers are eager to equip Rodgers with another weapon, but they’re definitely a team to watch if McLaurin gets traded.