Terry McLaurin requests trade in latest twist to Commanders contract saga

Terry McLaurin seems to be done with the Commanders. 

The star wide receiver has requested a trade from Washington, NFL Insider Jordan Schultz first reported Thursday, instantly making him one of the most attractive players on the NFL’s trade market. 

McLaurin, entering the final season of his three-year, $68.4 million deal and up for an extension, has been in a contract stalemate with the Commanders throughout the offseason.

The 29-year-old held out for the first four days of Washington’s training camp, before arriving on Sunday with an ankle injury that landed him on the physically unable to perform list. 

On July 15, the two-time Pro Bowler made it “abundantly clear” he wanted to stay with the Commanders, but he expressed frustration at a lack of progress in talks of extension. 

“I’ve been pretty frustrated, not going to lie,” McLaurin told reporters. “Everything that has transpired has been pretty disappointing. I want to continue my career here, I’ve created my life here, so I want to be here. Just to see how things have played out has been disappointing.”

The wideout was fined $105,000 for skipping the Commanders’ mandatory minicamp earlier in the summer, according to The Washington Post. Those fines reportedly ballooned to over $300,000 after he skipped the first four days of training camp.

McLaurin, who has spent each of his six seasons in the NFL with the Commanders, was a key cog to last year’s team, which went 12-5 and made it to the NFC title game under rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.

McLaurin developed noticeable chemistry with Daniels. The pair connected for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, and for 227 yards and three touchdowns in three playoff games.

But if McLaurin does get traded, the newly acquired Deebo Samuel would slot into Washington’s WR1 spot, with wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end Zach Ertz remaining key members of the team’s receiving corps.

Washington will play its regular season opener against the Giants at home on Sept. 7.