Patriots
“They love and worth Terry McLaurin, however they love and worth him at a distinct worth.”
The Patriots’ much-maligned receiver corps obtained a carry this summer time with the signing of veteran Stefon Diggs.
However, as New England tries to encompass Drake Maye with much more expertise going into the 2025 season, the Patriots may have one other tantalizing goal in the marketplace in Washington Commanders standout Terry McLaurin.
After months of hypothesis, the 29-year-old Washington receiver requested a commerce from the Commanders amid an ongoing contract dispute, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
McLaurin, who will flip 30 in September, is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract the place is about to earn $15.5 million in base wage.
His age would possibly steer the Commanders away from doling out a contract much like those secured by different standout receivers like Tee Higgins (4 years, $115 million) and DK Metcalf (4 years, $132 million).
However, McLaurin has additionally been among the finest receivers within the league since arriving in Washington as a third-round decide within the 2019 Draft. He’s recorded five-straight seasons with a minimum of 1,000 receiving yards to go together with 38 profession touchdowns.
Throughout the 2024 season, McLaurin reeled in a career-high 13 touchdowns and earned second-team All-Professional honors for the primary time in his profession.
Whereas Washington would possibly nonetheless see McLaurin a Jayden Daniels’ high goal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter famous on “The Pat McAfee Present” that the Commanders are nonetheless hesitant to pay the veteran at his new price ticket after the 2025 season.
“They love and worth Terry McLaurin, however they love and worth him at a distinct worth,” Schefter mentioned. “They don’t appear shut.”
McLaurin hitting the commerce market could be a welcome sight for the Patriots, who may nonetheless use one other top-end receiver to pair with Diggs for the 2025 season and past.
Talking earlier this month, Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer acknowledged that the Patriots could be one of many high suitors for McLaurin if he’s enjoying elsewhere in 2025.
“There hasn’t been a lot progress as a result of there hasn’t been a lot discuss between the edges. And I feel that’s why Terry felt compelled to say what he said publicly,” Breer said on NBC Sports Boston of McLaurin’s newest feedback expressing his frustration over stalled contract talks.
“I feel the Patriots could be very on this,” Breer added. “There’s a worth level for all of it, and what would that imply? Clearly, he’s not going to come back right here with an unresolved contract scenario, so that you’d be speaking a couple of draft decide plus a contract. He’s a bit older than folks notice as a result of he was a five-year faculty man. He’ll be 30 in September. Definitely, so far as what they’re on the lookout for — from an individual, a participant, serving to Drake Maye, and many others. — this man checks each field.”
Shelling out a brand new contract for McLaurin after the 2025 season could be expensive for New England, however the Patriots nonetheless have essentially the most wage cap area of any workforce within the NFL proper now at round $59.9 million, per OverTheCap.
If McLaurin stays steadfast in his need for a brand new contract and the Commanders are unwilling to budge, Eliot Wolf and the Patriots ought to be making a number of cellphone calls to Washington over the following few weeks in hopes of plucking the star receiver out of Washington.
The Commanders can pay a go to to Foxborough subsequent week for a joint apply on Wednesday earlier than Friday’s preseason opener towards Washington at Gillette Stadium.
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