Adam Schefter from ESPN reported that the New York Jets reached an agreement with standout NFL receiver Garrett Wilson to stay in the Big Apple for four more years. The deal includes $130 million, with $90 million guaranteed. This will make him stay with the team for the next six seasons. However, he was not the only receiver looking for a big payday, as the Washington Commanders and Terry McLaurin are yet to find an agreement. What’s holding it down?
Wilson hasn’t exactly reset the WR market. He will be payed handsomely, as his $32.5 million average per year is the 5th highest of all wideouts in the NFL. However, it is still a very good contract and maybe that’s something along the lines of what McLaurin wants.
See, McLaurin and the Commanders are reportedly ‘nowhere close‘ to reaching a deal. In the end, McLaurin is already earning quite a bit, but all these new wide receivers deals are leaving him behind, and he is in the middle of his prime.
Does McLaurin deserve a big contract?
Right now, McLaurin’s average salary per year ranks 16th highest in the NFL. He earns $22.7 million per year, which is pretty much $10 million below Wilson’s new deal. Considering Wilson hasn’t gone to a Pro Bowl yet, and McLaurin is coming off a 1,000+ yards, 13-touchdown season, you can see why not getting a big contract will bother McLaurin. After all, he is a two-time Pro Bowler.
Terry McLaurin – Washington Commanders – NFL 2023
Garrett Wilson is the fifth receiver ever to get 80+ catches and 1,000+ yards in his first three seasons. The others in that list are Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr., and Michael Thomas. While McLaurin is not on that list, he must feel disrespected. Other teams are getting these deals done while the Commanders are playing hard ball.
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Is McLaurin looking to reset the market?
While he wouldn’t be opposed to reset the market, what McLaurin wants is a price tag that makes him feel appreciated. In the end, he has been Washington’s best receiver since 2019. He has embodied and represented the franchise well and has become a leader. Plus, ‘Scary‘ Terry has surpassed a 1,000 yards in five out of his six seasons as a pro. The only one where he didn’t was his rookie year, and he got 919 that time.
McLaurin would probably accept anything over $30 million in average salary per year. That would put him in the top 10 and along the lines of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Tee Higgins, and Brandon Aiyuk. Actually, that is probably the tier where he ranks within the NFL. This puts more pressure in the Commanders’ front office. As more deals gets done, the price tag will keep rising.
