NFL insider makes bizarre claim about Commanders plans for Terry McLaurin

The Washington Commanders begin mandatory minicamp Tuesday and the expectation is they’ll be without Terry McLaurin, who skipped organized team activities while he and his reps negotiate a new contract with the franchise.

With both sides reportedly still far apart in negotiations, the fan base is understandably up in arms with the process seemingly being slow-played. Of course, there’s no way to know what’s happening behind closed doors, either, as it’s highly possible McLaurin’s camp is waiting for another domino in the wide receiver market to fall.

After all, the likes of DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and, to a lesser extent, Diontae Johnson, are all currently awaiting new deals.

The Commanders are optimistic an agreement will ultimately be reached, but fans aren’t wrong for fearing the worst given the team’s track record with negotiating lucrative extensions for big-time players.

Speaking of fearing the worst, the latest scoop from NFL insider Matt Lombardo is downright terrifying. Per Lombardo, Washington is “aiming to avoid” adhering to the exploding WR market that’s unfolded this offseason.

The motivation behind that alleged thinking? The uncertainty at quarterback beyond 2022 and the early emergence of Jahan Dotson.

The Commanders alleged plan for Terry McLaurin makes no sense.

Couple things. For starters, this report contradicts the notion that Washington is hopeful Wentz is its long-term solution at quarterback. Assuming that’s the case, Wentz is going to get the season to prove himself.

Why trade away his No. 1 receiver? Are we absolutely positive Dotson is ready to be a top target? The rookie was all the rage during OTAs and sometimes you can tell when a player is going to be special without pads, but shouldn’t the Commanders see him prove it on Sundays in the fall before they jump to conclusions?

And if Dotson is as good as Washington thinks he is … wouldn’t extending McLaurin make more sense at that point? The team would have a premium No. 1 option in with an ascending stud on a rookie contract for the next four years; five if his fifth-year option is exercised. That’s exactly how you finesse the WR market.

Unfortunately, however, that didn’t mark the end of Lombardo’s report. The insider continued noting the Commanders could trade the 26-year-old star to “better position themselves to get a franchise quarterback.”

Wait, what? So Washington is going to trade McLaurin for assets to make another trade for a quarterback? That better be a draft-oriented trade, because no big-name QB is going to want to come here after McLaurin just got offloaded.

There’s just nothing about this report that makes sense. The Commanders have a sketchy track record with paying star players, but not even they are this crazy to approach McLaurin’s future as reckless as this … right?