Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders hammered out a brand new contract for the star receiver, ending the group’s largest football-related saga of a tumultuous offseason a month earlier than coaching camp begins.
McLaurin agreed to phrases on a three-year contract, in accordance with two individuals with information of the transfer who spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity Tuesday as a result of the deal had not been introduced.
One individual confirmed the brand new deal is price as much as $71 million with roughly $53 million assured, together with a $28 million signing bonus. In accordance with Spotrac, it’s the best signing bonus for a receiver, barely greater than the $27.5 million DeAndre Hopkins bought from the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
McLaurin, who turns 27 in September, had one yr left on his rookie contract and skipped offseason exercises whereas negotiations have been ongoing. Coach Ron Rivera expressed confidence a few deal getting executed all through these exercises regardless of McLaurin’s absence.
"It's by no means contentious," Rivera mentioned not too long ago about negotiations with McLaurin’s camp. "I can promise you that a lot. So, we’re feeling fairly good and fairly assured in some unspecified time in the future, this may get executed."
A 3rd-round decide in 2019, McLaurin has turn out to be Washington’s finest participant since breaking into the NFL three years in the past. The Ohio State product has 222 catches for 3,090 yards and 16 touchdowns in 46 regular-season video games — all whereas taking part in with eight completely different quarterbacks.
"Terry’s a man that you simply need to construct a group round," defensive sort out Jonathan Allen mentioned final month. "He represents all the pieces we need to construct right here."
With this new contract, which was first reported by NFL Community, that’s precisely what the Commanders are doing.
With the goal of stabilizing the quarterback state of affairs, they acquired Carson Wentz from Indianapolis in March and hope he develops chemistry with McLaurin and fellow wideouts Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown and first-round decide Jahan Dotson.
McLaurin lacking voluntary organized group actions and necessary minicamp implies that course of will begin in earnest when coaching camp opens in late July. Rivera insisted he wasn’t apprehensive about how these missed snaps will damage McLaurin and Wentz.
"That’s not a giant concern for a few causes," Rivera mentioned. "Terry’s an expert and so is Carson. And so they’ll get their time, their alternative to work collectively as soon as we get into the coaching camp. I imagine that."
Getting a deal executed with McLaurin completes a very powerful process on Washington’s offseason to-do checklist. It’s additionally a optimistic on-field improvement for a corporation that has been coping with a number of off-field points, from a Congressional investigation into the group’s office tradition that has zeroed in on proprietor Dan Snyder to defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s feedback downplaying the Jan. 6 rebellion on the U.S. Capitol that drew a $100,000 tremendous and an ongoing seek for a brand new stadium website that has thus far confirmed unsuccessful.
It additionally scratches off the opportunity of a serious camp distraction. After stories emerged about McLaurin agreeing to phrases, operating again Antonio Gibson tweeted: "Thanks.. I used to be getting bored with that query #BigPaid."
Reporting by the Related Press
