Terry McLaurin held out and got his bag.
The Washington Commanders and the star receiver agreed to a three-year extension worth $23.3 million per year in new money, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday. The deal comes with a total of $53.15 million in guarantees, $34.6 million fully guaranteed upon signing, and a $28 million signing bonus, Rapoport added.
McLaurin was set to enter the final year of his contract with a base salary of $2.79 million in 2022.
Now he's enjoying an even bigger payday.
The former third-round pick skipped mandatory minicamp earlier this month as sides continued to discuss an extension. Commanders head coach Ron Rivera downplayed the holdout at the time, noting talks were "headed in the right direction."
Rivera was correct.
In three seasons, McLaurin has proven to be a go-to target for Washington despite the revolving door at quarterback. The 26-year-old has generated 3,090 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns on 222 receptions in his career, and is coming off back-to-back 1,000-plus yard campaigns. He's done all this despite catching passes from Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, a diminished Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Case Keenum, and Colt McCoy.
With Carson Wentz now the Commanders' starter, McLaurin can start building a rapport with his new QB come training camp without the contract distraction.
A precise route runner with sticky hands, McLaurin can get open at every level. He's the type of wideout who makes difficult catches seem routine.
The $23.3 million in new money puts McLaurin easily in the top 10 in wideout per-year average. The Commanders wideout becomes the 12th receiver to leapfrog the $20 million per-year mark. Nine receivers have signed contracts for at least $20 million per year this offseason.
The Offseason of The Receiver continues.
And we're not done: DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel and Diontae Johnson still are waiting on extensions.
