Dan Quinn’s Terry McLaurin Move Amid Contract Stalemate Turns Heads

A lot of things have gone right for the Washington Commanders over the past year or so. They found their quarterback of the future, Jayden Daniels, with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft last offseason, and paired him with a new head coach, Dan Quinn. That duo promptly led the team to the NFC Championship Game, where they came up just short against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Expectations are high for the 2025 campaign, and while the team has had a strong offseason of work, they have found themselves in the middle of a contract dispute with star wide receiver Terry McLaurin. There’s no end in sight when it comes to these talks, but an intriguing move by Quinn could ultimately help keep McLaurin in town for the long-term future.

Dan Quinn Keeping in Touch with Terry McLaurin Despite Contract Situation

Ever since being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, McLaurin has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league. Over the past five seasons, McLaurin has racked up at least 1,050 yards, earning Pro Bowl selections in both 2022 and 2024. It was Daniels’ first season under center that helped McLaurin truly break out last year, as he caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns to also earn a spot on the All-Pro Second Team.

McLaurin is entering the final year of his three-year, $68.3 million contract with Washington, and he made it clear he wanted a new deal this offseason. To this point, though, the Commanders have not been willing to pay him what he’s looking for, which led to him skipping mandatory minicamp back in June.

With his contract situation up in the air, trade rumors have swirled around McLaurin, as he and Washington’s front office are not on the same page. And even with that being true, Quinn has made an effort not to alienate his star playmaker, as he’s reportedly kept in touch with McLaurin amid his ongoing contract stalemate with the Commanders.

“Dan Quinn has stayed in constant contact with Terry McLaurin throughout this offseason,” James Palmer said via Bleacher Report. “It hasn’t been contentious in that sense to where he’s separate from the organization. Is there distance, is there frustration here as well? Certainly. Did they make really any headway through the entire month of June? To my understanding, no, they really didn’t.”

Dan Quinn, Commanders Working on Resolving Terry McLaurin’s Contract Issue

GettyWashington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

While things don’t appear to be in a good place between McLaurin and the Commanders, Quinn is doing his best to keep him in the loop on what’s going on with the team. That way, if McLaurin does eventually agree to a new deal with Washington, he will be able to pick right up where he left off last season.

For now, things aren’t looking great for McLaurin and the Commanders, but there’s still time for the two sides to find common ground. Look for this situation to get resolved at some point during training camp, with Quinn and McLaurin’s strong relationship potentially helping lead to a deal that will make everyone happy.