Washington general manager Adam Peters has done everything he can to provide Jayden Daniels with weapons to target and linemen to protect him. He brought in Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, among others. Beyond 2025, though, the outlook for the Commanders is murky at best. Over half of the Commanders’ receivers will be free agents in 2026, unless they are given contract extensions or new contracts when free agency hits next March.
While many Commanders fans will likely want to see Deebo Samuel return if he has a solid season, CBS Sports thinks the Commanders should focus on a different receiver: Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin, who turns 30 this season, is entering the final year of his contract with the Commanders in 2025, and there’s little doubt that he won’t remain with Washington for the foreseeable future. For years, McLaurin had been the face of the Commanders organization and produced at an elite level despite lackluster quarterback play. However, after the arrival of Jayden Daniels, Washington has been thrust into a Super Bowl window, and McLaurin is at the center of those championship hopes. He’s registered five-straight 1,000-yard seasons, and there are no signs of slowing down, making an extension an easy choice.
McLaurin has played his entire career with the Commanders, and his loyalty is being rewarded with bringing in a new administration and a new quarterback. He endured through the worst of the Dan Snyder era, and while he’s been quietly successful, the 2024 season opened the league’s eyes to just how good he is.
How he fares during the 2025 season will dictate how much the Commanders are willing to offer McLaurin, or if they ultimately decide to go with Samuel, or maybe they’ll keep them both. It’s hard to say for now, but if the Commanders don’t find a way to keep McLaurin, there might just be riots in the streets of our Nation’s capital.
