Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has requested a trade, per multiple reports. McLaurin has spent the offseason seeking a new contract extension with the team.
The two-time Pro Bowler was initially a holdout over the quest for a new deal, but reported to training camp last Saturday. Following a physical examination, McLaurin was placed on the physical unable to perform (PUP) list with an ankle injury.
McLaurin was hoping to sign a new contract during a time when the receiver market is stronger than ever. In the past year or so, McLaurin’s receiving peers, like the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb, Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, have signed record-breaking contracts worth $34 million (Lamb), $35 million (Jefferson) and $40 million (Chase) annually.
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After six years as a starter and two Pro Bowl nods, McLaurin wanted to figure out a contract along those lines.
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McLaurin, who was drafted by Washington in 2019 out of Ohio State, has started in every game he’s played in the six years since. He signed a three-year rookie extension in 2022 that is worth $68.4 million, and is set to earn $15.5 million in base salary this season.
Last season, McLaurin had a career season, recording 82 receptions for 1,096 yards, earning more targets, receptions or yards than any other player on the team. He caught 13 touchdowns — a career high, and twice as many touchdowns as the next receiver in the Commanders’ depth chart.
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But McLaurin’s age has reportedly been a sticking point: The wide receiver turns 30 in September.
Earlier this month, McLaurin said that he’s been “pretty frustrated” with the negotiations, but that he wanted to stay in Washington if possible.
“I’ve been pretty frustrated, I’m not going to lie. Everything that has transpired up until this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I want to continue my career here. I’ve created my life here. My wife and I bought our first home here. This has been somewhere I’ve always wanted to be,” he said.
On Sunday, as McLaurin reported to training but did not practice, he spoke on the issue while signing fan autographs.
“It’s tough,” McLaurin said, via Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein. “But it’s the business right now, and just trying to take things day by day.”
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Sunday that he was “really pumped” to have McLaurin back with the team.
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“He’s such an awesome competitor,” Quinn said. “It was great to see him.”
However, in the days since, things had soured to the point that McLaurin wants to see if the grass is greener elsewhere.
Several other high-profile players are holding out during the early weeks of training camp, with the messy situation between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys largely taking center stage. Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, another major holdout, remains unsigned but will reportedly report to training camp soon.
