3 top priorities for Commanders with newfound cap flexibility

1. Extend Terry McLaurin

No, the Commanders weren’t waiting for Collins’ release to become official to extend McLaurin. If they were, then we have bigger problems to worry about.

What the transaction does do, though, is give them extra wiggle room in negotiations. It honestly depends on how they want to structure McLaurin’s contract. Take AJ Brown’s monster extension for example. The newly-minted Eagle signed what is essentially a five-year, $104.22 million deal. Here’s a breakdown by year.

• 2022: $986,000 base salary
• 2023: $1.08 million base salary, $10.17 million option bonus, $510,00 per-game roster bonus, $240,000 workout bonus (all guaranteed)
• 2024: $20.25 million base salary, $510,000 per-game roster bonus, $240,000 workout bonus (all guaranteed)
• 2025: $15.25 million base salary, same bonuses as 2023 and 2024
• 2026 :$30.25 million base salary, same bonuses are 2023 and 2024

Since Brown and McLaurin are expected to sign similar deals, Brown’s deal gives needed perspective on Washington’s flexibility. While McLaurin’s potential future extension didn’t hinge on Collins’ contract coming off the books, it now gives the Commanders zero excuse to make the star wideout an offer he can’t refuse.