Terry McLaurin has waited a long time for this opportunity. The Washington Commanders wide receiver was not going to waste it.
McLaurin's gone from an underrated pass-catcher to one of the league's most prolific wide receivers in the blink of an eye. Every Commanders fan knows the immense talent he brings to the table. Now that the team has a legitimate franchise quarterback, everyone else knows it too.
There is nothing McLaurin cannot do with the football in his hands. He's become a yards-after-the-catch demon capable of taking even the shortest completions for lengthy gains. This was evident once again to spark the Commanders into life in their NFC Championship showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It looked like this game might be getting away from the Commanders. They controlled the clock, but silly mistakes and an inability to contain running back Saquon Barkley gave them a mountain to climb.
Then, McLaurin changed everything.
Terry McLaurin should get paid by the Commanders this offseason
Shortly after a missed field goal from the Eagles, the former third-round pick out of Ohio State took it upon himself to get Washington back into the contest. McLaurin expertly brought in a Daniels pass on a slant before showcasing his elite-level explosiveness and elusiveness to take it 36 yards for the touchdown.
SCARY HOURS 👻 @TheTerry_25 pic.twitter.com/cG0xec4oNP
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
The Commanders couldn't convert the two-point conversion to tie things up, but it let the Eagles know in no uncertain terms they weren't going to go down without a fight.
This also added more dollars to McLaurin's contract demands along the way.
The two-time Pro Bowler has one year remaining on his deal. McLaurin's proven his worth as an integral cornerstone piece. Keeping him around on another extension to potentially finish his career in Washington is an absolute no-brainer for general manager Adam Peters.
Keeping McLaurin isn't going to be cheap. But to retain the best and remain in contention, you have to pay up accordingly.
McLaurin's latest highlight reel moment, and his performance levels throughout another memorable campaign, warrant a lofty financial commitment. The Commanders should only be too happy to pay a respected figure and inspirational locker room leader.
He also loves being part of this franchise despite plenty of bad times. Everything is on the up now, so working out a longer-term commitment should be a relatively straightforward exercise for all involved.
The second-team All-Pro is the beating heart of Washington football. Expect Peters to reward McLaurin when the time comes this offseason.