Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Saturday that he understands the business side of the sport when it comes to wide receiver Terry McLaurin requesting a trade from the team.
McLaurin asked for a change of scenery on Thursday given his frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations toward a contract extension. Quinn said McLaurin told him of his plea for a trade before the news became public.
“We love Terry. I’m really glad he’s here,” Quinn said. “Hopefully he’s out practicing soon. We also understand there’s the business side of this things that (general manager) Adam (Peters) and his side and Terry and his reps are working it through. I just kind of stay in that space. We recognize both are happening.
“But like I said, I’m really glad he’s here. I love coaching him. But the business side, that’s kind of where it’s at. It’s not — somebody asked me if it’s a distraction — it is not. Players today, they’re more aware of contracts and things maybe than they used to be. They recognize that business part happens, as well, so for the team, we’re just rocking and going and throwing some great practices.
“For Terry and the trade request, that’s part of normal business that is happening around the NFL. It’s normal, we understand it, and we just throw our very best practices out on the field.”
McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, became a hold-in and was placed on the team’s physically unable to perform list with an apparent ankle injury suffered last season. He did not attend organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. He did, however, participate in spring workouts.
With a base salary of $15.5 million and cap hit of $25.5 million in the final season of a three-year, $68.3 million contract, the speedster is coming off a career year with 1,096 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns and 82 receptions on 117 targets. He added three scores and 227 yards on 14 receptions in three playoff games.
McLaurin and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels helped lead Washington to a 12-5 regular-season mark and its best season since it won the Super Bowl in 1991. The Commanders knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC wild-card round and Detroit Lions in the divisional round before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Over six seasons with Washington, the two-time Pro Bowl selection (2022, 2024) has 6,379 receiving yards, 38 touchdowns and 460 catches in 97 games.
A team captain, McLaurin has hit the 1,000-yard mark for a franchise-record five straight seasons despite instability at the quarterback position before Daniels’ NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
–Field Level Media
