Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Has 2 Reasons to Want Jets Trade Scenario

He wants the Washington Commanders to get a move on with arranging his next contract, and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin could leverage the process by talking up a possible trade to the New York Jets.

McLaurin getting dealt to the AFC East outfit is just a scenario at the moment. One outlined by Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, who detailed two reasons why the wideout would welcome the move.

As Benjamin put it, “new quarterback Justin Fields shares an Ohio State background with McLaurin, and Jets passing game coordinator Scott Turner was previously McLaurin’s play-caller in Washington.”

Playing with a quarterback he knows and within a system he’s comfortable executing would surely look appealing to McLaurin amid what is turning into a protracted and frustrating saga.

McLaurin’s frustration will likely only grow after he saw the Jets stump up the cash for their own No. 1 receiver, Garrett Wilson.

Jets Trade Makes Sense for Terry McLaurin, Not Commanders

The Jets should be open to any deal for McLaurin because, as Benjamin put it, “they have money to spare, however, with close to $30 million in remaining cap space, plus a relatively dire need for pass-catching weapons opposite Garrett Wilson, who’s now locked in with a deal of his own.”

Of course, the financial picture has changed slightly since Gang Green also handed a history-making new deal to All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. Now the Jets have $36,970,078 worth of space under the cap, according to Spotrac.com, so even more room to accommodate McLaurin, provided their own stud wideout doesn’t complicate matters.

Ironically, Wilson’s new deal can increase McLaurin’s asking price in negotiations with the Commanders. General manager Adam Peters has incentive to pay McLaurin, since he’s the only dominant receiver outside the numbers on the roster.

‘Scary Terry’ is a legitimate deep threat who gives star second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels a vertical outlet. Like on this 55-yard connection against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, per SportsCenter.

McLaurin’s importance is obvious, but the Commanders do have some justification for not exceeding their own valuation of the player.

Commanders Taking Calculated Risk With Terry McLaurin

From the outside looking in, Peters is taking an unnecessary gamble with the future of a respected and productive veteran. One whose big-play output is a massive boost to the development of Daniels.

Making big payouts while Daniels is playing on a rookie contract seems like the sensible choice, but a closer look shows the Commanders are taking more of a calculated risk with McLaurin.

It’s a calculation based on the arrival of All-Pro Deebo Samuel, who’s still a dual-threat playmaker. Samuel can help Daniels by turning the short passes and screens the Commanders rely on into bigger plays.

There’s also the potential for electrifying 2025 fourth-round draft pick Jaylin Lane to do something similar. The former Virginia Tech standout has similar traits to Samuel, in terms of getting open over the middle and being a major threat in the screen game, things highlighted by “Burgundy Zone” creator The Podfather.

A Samuel and Lane combination could replace McLaurin’s quick-strike capability, albeit in different ways, while a much-needed breakout from Daniels’ fellow 2024 draft pick would give Washington’s offense a size mismatch among its receivers.

Even somebody like former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup, who has a 1,000-yard pedigree, offers the Commanders insurance against losing McLaurin. Provided Gallup can stay healthy after missing significant time in recent years due to knee and calf problems.

Peters has put the Commanders in a position to move on from McLaurin, if necessary. Their risk of doing so could be offset by Daniels, based on the argument an elite quarterback makes even average receivers look good.

Washington’s wide receiver options are not average, even without McLaurin, but it should still take ample draft compensation and maybe even some veteran help, for Peters to even consider a deal.