Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was absent from the team’s voluntary offseason program on Wednesday, as reported by Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. This absence comes after he had previously participated fully in the program, leading to speculation that it may be tied to his desire for a contract extension.
Next week, as the team enters Phase 3 of the program, there may be more clarity regarding McLaurin’s intentions. General Manager Adam Peters mentioned during the NFL owners meeting in March that preliminary discussions had begun between the team and McLaurin’s representatives. However, the current status of those negotiations remains uncertain.
As McLaurin approaches the final year of his contract, he is set to earn a base salary of $15.5 million this season. His annual average salary of $23.2 million places him 16th among wide receivers, falling short of new teammate Deebo Samuel’s $23.85 million annual average.
Notably, McLaurin has shown impressive performance on the field, having recorded a career-high 13 touchdowns in a season where he played with a franchise quarterback. He has consistently surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in five consecutive seasons, a significant achievement since he only managed 919 yards in his rookie year, which stands as the only season he didn’t cross the 1,000-yard threshold.
Interestingly, McLaurin’s previous absence from the voluntary offseason program in 2022 resulted in a positive outcome. The two parties eventually reached an agreement on a three-year, $69.6 million contract by early July, indicating that negotiations can lead to successful resolutions.
Overall, while McLaurin’s absence raises questions about his anticipated extension, the upcoming phases of the offseason program might shed light on the development of his contract talks with the Commanders. It’s essential for both the player and the franchise to find common ground that acknowledges his contributions and secures his place in the roster moving forward.