Commanders Trade Terry McLaurin to AFC in Longshot Proposal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Washington Commanders have done too much – and come too far – to not keep star receiver Terry McLaurin.
Strike while the iron is hot, they say. And with ascending quarterback Jayden Daniels on his rookie contract, the Commanders’ front office is making moves for the here and now. Washington shocked the NFL last season with a 12-5 record, two road playoff wins and a run to the NFC Championship Game.
This offseason they built on that momentum, trading for receiver Deebo Samuel and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Losing McLaurin – one of the team’s best and most beloved players – would stunt the growth. It’s not going to happen. But just in case …
McLaurin wants a new contract and may not show up to next month’s training camp without one. If the Commanders ultimately can’t find a common ground, what could they do with the Pro Bowl target?
FOX sports sees one of the options being a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders.
“To be clear: I’m incredibly confident Terry McLaurin will remain a Commander,” writes FOX’s David Helman. “He’s been loyal to that franchise, even when times weren’t so good. He’s done nothing but produce, even when he didn’t have a star quarterback. He’s even held out before, as he used this strategy to secure his current extension back in 2022. I really don’t think Washington will let him walk when it finally has a chance to contend.”
McLaurin had 13 touchdowns last season, second-most in the league and more than twice as many as the entire Raiders’ receiving corps. So what would a possible deal look like?
“The Raiders are already in decent shape for Geno Smith’s first season,” FOX continues. “Brock Bowers is a star, and Ashton Jeanty should be one soon. Jakobi Meyers is a solid receiver, but Vegas still needs to upgrade its receiver room. Rather than take your chances in the draft, why not ship a pick or two to Washington and lock in McLaurin for the rest of his prime?”
Most experts believe McLaurin will stay in Washington. But the longer the issue lingers, the more trade scenarios will begin popping up.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.