If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t heard, the Washington Commanders signed Terry McLaurin to a three-year extension this week. The contract locks up the standout receiver through the 2025 season, when he’ll have the chance to sign a second lucrative deal (possibly with Washington) as a 31-year-old.
With the news, McLaurin becomes the latest in a long list of star wideouts who inked gargantuan contracts this offseason, including Davante Adams (Raiders), Cooper Kupp (Rams), Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) and AJ Brown (Eagles), among others.
Extending McLaurin was an absolute must for the Commanders. Having the 26-year-old phenom enter 2022 on an expiring contract would’ve opened the door for a potential trade before next season or him leaving in free agency in 2023.
Luckily, we don’t have to worry about that nightmare scenario. For other potential suitors, however, it’s back to the drawing board in their search for a No. 1 wideout. Here are some of the teams Washington screwed by extending McLaurin.
3 teams the Commanders screwed by extending Terry McLaurin
3. Baltimore Ravens
If you (like me) have a soft spot for Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are likely the one team that it wouldn’t have been unbearable to see McLaurin land. After all, Baltimore has done alarmingly little to equip its former MVP with proper weaponry.
As of this writing, Jackson’s top receivers are Rashod Bateman, who admittedly looked like a player last year after he returned from injury, Devin Duvernay, Tylan Wallace and James Proche, neither of whom have more than 10 career starts. That leaves Mark Andrews, the team’s tight end, as Jackson’s go-to target.
That’s a recipe for disaster in the year 2022, when most contenders have three or four capable receivers on their rosters. Look no further than the Buccaneers, Rams, Bengals, Bills and Chiefs’ receiving arsenals. Projected to be equipped with $40.538 million in 2023, it’s reasonable to assume Baltimore would’ve made a strong push for McLaurin in free agency next offseason.
That … is no longer on the table. That’s bad news for Jackson, who lost Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Sammy Watkins this offseason. For Commanders fans, however, it’s another reason to smile about McLaurin’s three-year extension.
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams entering 2022. Frank Reich has established himself as an elite head coach, but his Indy teams have often flamed out in the first round or just before the playoffs.
While Matt Ryan’s steadying presence and leadership is an upgrade to the volatile Carson Wentz (it’s true!), the former MVP has a wonky receiving corps.
Outside of Michael Pittman, who looked the part of a No. 1 option in 2021 when he logged 88 catches for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns, Parris Campbell has played 15 games in three years, Ashton Dulin has 18 catches in three seasons and a lot (maybe too much) will be asked of second-round pick Alec Pierce as a rookie.
Of course, the Colts wouldn’t be in this position if they simply drafted McLaurin back in 2019. Slated with three different chances to take the hometown kid, Indy nabbed Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu and Campbell (in order) over McLaurin.
An Indianapolis native who starred at Cathedral High School, which is less than an hour drive from Lucas Oil Stadium, you have to think general manager Chris Ballard would’ve looked to rectify this mistake by offering McLaurin a mammoth contract in free agency next year, as Indy will have $23.15 million in cap space.
Unfortunately for Ballard, this mistake is incapable of being fixed. McLaurin is signed with Washington through 2025. You snooze, you lose.
1. Green Bay Packers
The Packers were shockingly forced into trading Davante Adams this offseason. Unlike the Chiefs and Tyreek Hill, however, Green Bay was willing to move heaven and earth to keep Adams around as Aaron Rodgers’ primary target, reportedly offering him a contract that would’ve made him the highest-paid WR in the league.
While Green Bay doesn’t have a great salary cap outlook for 2023, their godfather offer to Adams (the Raiders admittedly offered him more) made it clear the front office is prepared to go over the top to keep Rodgers happy.
Had McLaurin’s extension negotiations with Washington hit a snag and he entered 2022 on an expiring contract, the Packers absolutely would’ve inquired about trading for him. After all, Rodgers is currently without a true No. 1 target following Adams’ exit and his No. 2 target, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, left in free agency.
That leaves oft-injured vet Sammy Watkins, unproven (but promising) rookie Christian Watson, former undrafted free agent Allen Lazard, and soon-to-be 32-year-old Randall Cobb as the two-time reigning MVP’s top weapons.
As an inner-conference rival and likely favored to win their third consecutive game over Washington this upcoming season, it feels pretty good the Commanders screwed Green Bay out of landing McLaurin.