If the Washington Commanders are truly forced into a situation where they’re going to have to trade NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin, there’s one team that seems to be a perfect fit above all others.
That team is the Buffalo Bills, who are not only a legitimate Super Bowl contender but have made several moves in the past for superstar wide receivers via trade and also aren’t currently paying any wide receiver the big bucks McLaurin is asking for.
“The Bills are the most logical destination,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell said on August 1. “The Bills have traded for (wide receivers) Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper in the past … and they would love to add McLaurin right now.”
If McLaurin truly wants to leave, truly wants to get paid and truly wants to play for a winner — we know he at least wants to get paid — there’s no better place to do it right now than in Buffalo.
McLaurin is due $19.65 million in the final season of the 3-year, $68.36 million contract extension he signed in June 2022, which will bring his career earnings to approximately $76 million.
McLaurin Could Be Key To Winning Super Bowl
The Bills are one of several teams in the AFC, along with the Baltimore Ravens, who are finding this era defined by their inability to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.
In the 7 seasons since superstar quarterback Josh Allen took over in 2018, the Bills have made the playoffs 6 consecutive times since 2019 and been knocked out of the playoffs by the Chiefs 4 times, including twice in the AFC Championship Game.
In 2024, the Bills seemed like they were truly just one player away — specifically a wide receiver — away from making it to the Super Bowl. That wasn’t for lack of trying.
Not only did Buffalo use a high draft pick on a wide receiver with Keon Coleman in the second round, they also traded a third round pick and seventh round pick in exchange for Cleveland Browns wide receiver and 5-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper in Week 6.
Neither player proved to be a difference maker, although Allen still somehow wound up winning NFL MVP honors for the first time despite not having anyone on the roster with over 1,000 receiving yards — Khalil Shakir led the Bills with 76 receptions for 821 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Commanders Could Land Large Haul for McLaurin
The Bills trade with the Minnesota Vikings to land Diggs in March 2020 should be closer to the framework of a deal between the Bills and the Commanders to send McLaurin to the AFC East.
In exchange for Diggs, the Vikings received Buffalo’s 2020 first round pick, which they used on superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson, along with Buffalo’s 2021 fourth round pick, 2020 fifth round pick, and 2020 sixth round pick.
Even more than picks, of which they would get a lot in return, the biggest component to any deal for McLaurin might be the money. Avoiding disaster in this case means making sure the Bills are ready to pay McLaurin’s quote the moment he get traded.
For the Commanders, part of the package they get back from McLaurin should include, at least, Buffalo’s 2026 first round pick along with a few more late round picks and even possibly Coleman.
