Few Washington Commanders players came under more scrutiny during an underwhelming 2025 campaign than star wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
The 2024 second-team All-Pro began his seventh year in Washington as a no-show in training camp and preseason during a dramatic contract standoff with general manager Adam Peters. The matter was resolved in time for the regular season, but he started slowly and then suffered a quad/hip flexor injury in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
McLaurin missed seven of Washington's next eight games, eventually finishing the season with 582 receiving yards and three touchdowns from 38 receptions. He'll need to bounce back next season as much as anybody, and he'll need to do it in a revamped offense.
Thankfully, new offensive coordinator David Blough has a plan.
David Blough vows to rebuild the Commanders' passing attack around Terry McLaurin
If there was any idea that McLaurin no longer fits into the plans for the Commanders' future, Blough immediately shot it down. He not only wants the Ohio State product to return to form, but also to be more involved than ever.
"This thing's going to be built around, how do we get Terry 10 targets a game?"
— John Doran (@JohnDoranTV) February 12, 2026
Some insight into Blough's offense and the plan to get Terry McLaurin double digit opportunities to make a play. More in writing from @DHarrison82 here: https://t.co/rebWXvJmRk pic.twitter.com/C9pu408nnl
Blough's words probably aren't meant to be taken exactly literally, but let's suppose they are. McLaurin has never received 10 targets per game in his career, or even anything particularly close to it. His highest usage was in 2020, when the ball was thrown to him 134 times in 15 appearances.
McLaurin has always been known for his consistency and reliability, with upwards of 1,000 receiving yards in every fully healthy season of his career, except his rookie year. But he's also been known to be frozen out of Washington's offense at times. There have been too many occasions over the years where he just hasn't gotten the ball enough.
This was especially problematic during McLaurin's two seasons under recently removed offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Despite having a career year in 2024, his 117 targets were his fewest since 2019. For context, he was on pace for 102 had he played all 17 contests in 2025.
Blough wants to fix that and believes the two-time Pro Bowler is still capable of taking his game to new heights. McLaurin might not have another 13-touchdown campaign, but he needs to be treated as a true No. 1 option.
With Deebo Samuel Sr.'s future hanging in the balance before free agency, the rest of quarterback Jayden Daniels' receiving corps is looking uncertain. He has chemistry with McLaurin, and Blough's offense must be designed so that he can lock in on him.
It's a winning formula.