You're Terry - Tell Me Why You Are Staying In Washington?

[Canadian Hog]

Terry McLaurin has been a gift to the Washington Commanders ever since entering the league. He has been a highly productive player, reliable, hardworking, and a leader. In a nutshell, he says all the right things, does all the right things, and is the perfect player to serve as the face of the Washington Commanders as they enter a new era. He is a legitimate star player, one we have been in desperate need of in Washington for quite some time.

The common theme right now as we begin hearing about McLaurin potentially skipping mandatory mini-camp is that we just need to hand him a blank cheque and pay him whatever he wants. Many of us have shared that sentiment watching Terry play since very early this season, and even dating back to the 2020 season. So, what is the hold up? Why does this need to be so damn difficult for a team that is already on shaky ground with what is left of its dwindling fanbase?

I think the current state of the Washington franchise and our desperation is part of what is going to make this a tricky negotiation. Whether it is a home grown player or not, I think that the Dan Snyder effect is going to make you pay a major premium for players to stay/come here - we all know that.

Many are saying just pay him what AJ Brown got or slot him slightly above that, as Terry and AJ are similar in production. Would you take that though if you are Terry? Take the 5th highest WR salary (for the time being) to continue playing in one of the armpits of the NFL? Take the 5th highest WR salary to play for Dan Snyder? Take the 5th highest salary to play for a team that makes the news for financial improprieties, sexual misconduct, DEA raids, and the inability to secure stadium deals? Take the 5th highest salary to basically play 17 road games a year, given the sad state of home attendance? Take the 5th highest salary to play for a team that has won 1 playoff game in the last 20 odd years or so? Take the 5th highest salary to stay on board with a team that has won 17 games in Terry's first three seasons combined, and trotted out 7 different QBs? Did we mention that if Terry McLaurin signs long term here, he would also be doing it with very little clarity in regards to who his QB is long term beyond 2022? Kind of important for a WR. By staying in Washington, it is kind of like asking Terry to keep running an old car that has 150000 miles on it and has been causing problem after problem, as opposed to going to the lot and buying a shiny new ride.

My point is giving Terry the Brown deal is lazy, and if I am his agent, I am holding Washington's feet over the coals. Right above AJ Brown on the WR wage scale is Cooper Kupp. There is an argument there that Terry's first three years were as productive as Kupp's. Above him is DeAndre Hopkins. As an agent, if you are selling Terry as being the standard of character, intangibles, etc, he is surely not getting a suspension like Hopkins did for PEDs, right?

Overall, given all I have mentioned, I don't think it is unreasonable for McLaurin's camp to ask to be the third highest paid WR in the league, right below Devante and Tyreek. The question becomes is Washington prepared to go there?

I keep coming back to this though - If I am Terry McLaurin and this is likely to be the one major contract I sign in my career and I want to get it right, why am I picking Washington?

Enlighten me, BGO.

 

[Chris]

Terry McLaurin is too high-quality of a person for this organization. Not for what the organization wants to be, or possibly thinks it is, but for what it currently is.

If I am him or advising him, considering his age, I would settle for nothing less than a market deal. He is everything that any organization should highly value both on and off the field. Hometown discount? No f’in way. Sole focus on the guaranteed money is the way.

That said it’s still early. Jon Allen, his equal on the defense, didn’t sign his extension until late July. This is still a business and both sides have the right and the responsibility to negotiate for their benefit. My greatest fear is that the team ends up tagging him. Two tags would cost them an average salary of 22m per. They would save money but lose him after. Hopefully the front office has learned.

 

[Chris]

The Hill contract is misleading math magic, I’m sure driven by an agent’s need for headline AVV numbers. 42.9m in the fourth year? Yeah, that’s gonna happen. 🤣

 

[Primus Porcus]

I think we need to remember these guys are still human. It's going to be hard to convince Terry to walk away from $20mil+ per year when he's yet to earn $1mil in a single season. It's also a major risk to forgoe the $20mil mil per year NOW, to play THIS year on his rookie deal, then likely get franchise tagged at least once, possibly twice. That's 3 years with NO injury guarantee outiside of the season he's currently playing in, in a market that's clearly ascending, a position that is dependent on explosion and change of direction, and a position that injuries are very possible. There's a reason they say "he bet on himself," when a guy pushes the limit like that regarding franchise tags.

We also have to remember, there are only 32 of these 'employers' in the world. Yes there are other leagues, but not like the NFL. It's a very exclusive club. Playing in the NFL is a dream for a lot of people, and they feel blessed to just be on that level. He MAY be working at the direction of his Agent (and his circle) who's job it is to get him the biggest contract out there. He may not be in the conversation at all, with his agent telling him "i'll get the deal done, just be patient."

If Terry wants out, I don't think it's because of $2-$3mil per year. It's a situation where either he's getting severely low-balled, or he simply does not want to be here, and no realistic amount of money can change that.

Grant Paulsen talked out an interesting scenario where he plays this year on his current deal @ ~$3mil, then we franchise tag him in 2023 for $23mil, then again in 2024 for $27.6mil (120% of the prior year). You do that and it's essentially a 2 year extension with an AAV of about $25.5 mil... I'm not saying I would necessarily do that, but the logic is not completely irrational, if that's the plan.

The last part of this (and something that's only been talked about recently) is that when a team signs a player to a contract, they literally write a paper check for the guaranteed money and put it in escrow. Is it possible that the team (Snyder) simply can't afford to write a check for the $50mil guarantee Terry and his Agent are pushing for. I have to imagine he has the money, but who the hell knows?

I think there are about 100 different reasons we're here, and one of the reasons very well may be the incapability of the front office

 

[burgold]

There's something to say about system fit. Many times the grass isn't greener when you leave home. Terry has been really successful in Washington and right now he is the most beloved, biggest fished in a pretty small bowl. Does that matter to him? I don't know, but he will not be loved as he is loved in Washington elsewhere.

I just wish our Front Agency wasn't so stupid.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I think we also have to take a look at some of the guys that have left here, and realize the whole picture.

Kirk Cousins. We're now a few years removed and can see that Kirk was NEVER going to play under a contract that wasnt 100% guaranteed, so it's very likely there NOTHING we could do other than THAT to keep him here.

 

[MikefromOH]

Completely honest?

You only sign here if you want to get paid and thats all that matters. This team hasn't had nor tried to have a good wide receiver corp since.....the posse?

Moss had no help
Garcon had no help
Desean was no help
We drafted bust after bust.

If he wants to win he finds a team to do so with. If he wants to chase the dollar...well, he should still go. This team fumbled Kirk so bad it still stinks.

 

[Bulldog]

Dotson looks like he is legit so Terry will have help.

But the team is treating the negotiations as if they have all the leverage.

Just as they did with Kirk.

can’t one administration learn from another?

 

[Boone]

I've said it before. If there's a player you throw the bank at and knowingly overpay for - it's Terry McLaurin. Absolutely an incredible talent (even with borderline incompetent QBing so far) and the kind of star you build a team around in terms of character.

If we fuck this one up, it's pretty solid evidence not one damn thing has changed, regardless of the hype.

 

[Bulldog]

But we give money to Curtis Samuel that is better spent resigning McLaurin.

It looks now like Samuel may very well end up as the #3 receiver.

If he plays out his contract here I will be surprised.

 

[SkinsOrlando]

I prefer not to compare this scenario to the thief known as Cousins cuz look what he's done since he left, essentially nothing worth noting. Scherff, couldn't stay healthy, wanted a huge deal, time to move on.

We could've already put out a mega offer and he's declined because he doesn't want to be here long term. That means he's banking on himself having a good year and also not getting injured as an extension is going to have some good guaranteed cash. I find this scenario not very likely but it's all conjecture at this point.

Maybe negotiations were going well and then the WR market went freakin nuclear and we decided to take a deep breathe and resume later after the dust settles, which it has.

Could be the FO is giving Rivera this year as his last if he doesn't field a better team and the FO doesn't want to commit to a WR if we have to go into rebuild mode.
and I know the fear, we have a good year and end up playing the franchise tag game again because we couldn't pull the trigger.

Who knows??

Boone, I concur and agree he's the type of talent you overpay for but I have no idea where to even start when it comes to money after what happened this offseason.

 

[Boone]

I think the WR market exploding is the most likely reason this has become a protracted thing. No way a team lets a young star go willingly because a ‘rebuild’ may be in the future - and besides, there’s no one in that building that thinks anything close to a rebuild is needed. It’s all about what he and his agent are asking for vs. the teams assessment of his value.

 

[Chris]

The new reality of WR pay is a definite factor.

Deebo Samuels and DK Metcalf being in his draft class and in the same position is probably also a factor.

Worst case scenario (emphasis on worst) is he plays out the current contract and is then franchised for two consecutive seasons. Not terrifically bad for Terry but absolutely terrible for the reputation of the franchise.

 

[MikefromOH]

Was Kirk really a thief?

Or, did this organization just bumble any deal opportunity and force themselves in to that corner year after year?

I can't hate Kirk for getting all the money he can. Guy is a great salesman.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Was Kirk really a thief?

Or, did this organization just bumble any deal opportunity and force themselves in to that corner year after year?

I can't hate Kirk for getting all the money he can. Guy is a great salesman.

I think looking back, Kirk and his agent flipped their priority to guaranteed money... as he's been on guaranteed money ever since.

I think we messed up to begin with, opening that door.

I also think we would not be seeing some level of massive success had kirk stayed.

 

[MikefromOH]

I think looking back, Kirk and his agent flipped their priority to guaranteed money... as he's been on guaranteed money ever since.

I think we messed up to begin with, opening that door.

I also think we would not be seeing some level of massive success had kirk stayed.

I don't blame him though. He has a short window to make his career, and we were being dumb. I remember Scot already had a contract ready for him and it was suddenly off the table. We put ourselves in that position and he just reaped the benefits.

Is he overrated as a QB? Absolutely! But, we did that to ourselves by not signing him when we had the chance to a respectable deal.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I don't blame him though. He has a short window to make his career, and we were being dumb. I remember Scot already had a contract ready for him and it was suddenly off the table. We put ourselves in that position and he just reaped the benefits.

Is he overrated as a QB? Absolutely! But, we did that to ourselves by not signing him when we had the chance to a respectable deal.

I don't either. Get what you can. I literally just heard an interview with Charles Mann who said if he had a choice he would not have played football. Said he's lost a major portion of his life just from recovering from surgeries. I will ALMOST ALWAYS side with the players because they have no real leverage...

 

[MikefromOH]

This always stuck with me and helped me understand the "greed" behind some players motives.

 

[burgold]

Unless there is something we don't know about (and I'm not sure I can imagine what that is) it's almost impossible not to take Terry's side in this.

Get it done.

 

[Bulldog]

When a team like Washington actually hits big in the draft with a middle round pick like Terry you need to lock it down or you look even more enfeebled.

Hopefully the signing of Jonathan Allen shows that we are turning a corner on stability, at least on the field.

But we need more evidence.