Commanders kickstart new era in style with Terry McLaurin extension

The Washington Commanders‘ offseason was always going to be defined by whether they signed Terry McLaurin to a contract extension.

As an offensive cornerstone, locker room leader and one of the franchise’s advertisement posters alongside Chase Young and Jonathan Allen, Washington couldn’t afford to have McLaurin enter 2022 on an expiring contract.

After a holdout that spanned from before the draft in April through mandatory minicamp in mid-June, both sides have reached a compromise.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, McLaurin and the Commanders reached an agreement on a three-year, $71 million extension. The contract makes McLaurin one of the top-five highest-paid receivers in the league and there’s not a single Washington fan out there that would argue he doesn’t deserve such recognition.

The Commanders signed Terry McLaurin to a three-year extension.

What a way to kickstart the Commanders era. Ron Rivera has preached about implementing a new culture in Washington and he’s now signed two franchise pillars in Allen and McLaurin in consecutive offseasons. If that doesn’t signal a changing of the guard in Ashburn, then good luck finding something that does.

Per Schefter, McLaurin’s extension includes a $28 million signing bonus, which is the largest ever for a wide receiver. Additionally, a whopping 76.4 percent of his money was guaranteed at the time of his signing. Though groundbreaking figures, the exploded receiver market that unfolded this offseason was always going to see the 2019 third-round pick set records if an agreement ultimately got reached.

Still just 26 years old, McLaurin has surpassed the 1,000-yard threshold in consecutive seasons, becoming the first Washington receiver to do so since since Henry Ellard in three straight seasons spanning 1994-1996. His output is simply remarkable considering the team has rotated nine (!) different starting quarterbacks over his three seasons.

After months of trade speculation and McLaurin potentially receiving the dreaded franchise tag in free agency next offseason, the star receiver is now signed with the Commanders through the 2025 campaign.

And you guys were worried!