Terry McLaurin is seeking a new contract from the Washington Commanders and has held out of minicamp to leverage the team for a new deal. McLaurin has been a standout since entering the league from Ohio State in 2019 and has put up some very solid numbers, considering the suspect quarterback play Washington has seen up until Jayden Daniels' arrival in 2024.
With the exception of his rookie season, he has recorded at least 77 catches each year and over 1,000 yards. In 2024, he surpassed his previous career best season receiving touchdown total with 13 to his name.
As good as he has been, he will turn 30 during the season, and a new contract may not be something Washington is willing to offer to a player with a lot of mileage on his body, however productive he has been.
CBS recently listed off a trio of teams that could be in the market for the former Buckeye, citing that the Raiders, Chargers, and Jets could all be sound landing spots. Each makes sense in its own way, but the Patriots being omitted from the list is a bit of a surprise.
The Patriots have all the resources to go after Terry McLaurin
It shouldn't be a surprise that McLaurin would have a plethora of suitors if he were actually available, but the Patriots should be close to the top of that list. According to Over the Cap, the Patriots have over $60 million in cap space even after their spending spree, so an extension would be no issue for McLaurin, even if he is to receive the $30 million a year someone of his caliber is likely to receive.
The Patriots have the first, second, and third-round picks next season, a few young developmental players, and competent veterans they could offer in a trade for McLaurin.
There's no doubt the team needs help at the position: despite the addition of Stefon Diggs, they lack depth behind him, and even Diggs at this point isn't the top-end talent he once was. The tricky thing about a McLaurin trade would be that there seems to be very little motivation for Washington to trade him unless it was an offer they couldn't refuse.
Nonetheless, could the Patriots try to send their 2025 first-round pick and Kendrick Bourne or Kayshon Boutte? Alternatively, could they send Ja'Lynn Polk and a day three pick to go along with the day one selection that would come standard?
Resources in terms of money and picks aren't an issue, and at this point, one could understand the appeal for McLaurin coming to New England with Drake Maye under center and Mike Vrabel as the head coach.
While they may not have been named a top-three candidate, and the competition for McLaurin, if he is indeed available, would be steep, New England has all the necessary resources to pull the trigger if possible.