Ron Rivera: We’re not trading Terry McLaurin

The Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is holding out for a contract extension. Each passing day has brought about the possibility of the Commanders trading McLaurin if a deal cannot be reached.

However, while speaking to reporters following Day 2 practices of their mandatory minicamp, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera shut down the idea of trading McLaurin.

“We’re not trading Terry,” Rivera proclaimed, per NBC Sports’ J.P. Finlay. “We’re trying to get this [deal] done. We believe in who Terry is for us and what he can bring to the table.”

McLaurin is seeking a new deal as he is set to enter the final year of his four-year rookie contract. The $2.79 million salary he is owed this upcoming season is considered severely below his production value.

The benchmark for top-level wide receivers has been set at around $25 million per year. While the Commanders have no plans of trading McLaurin, that’s been the outcome for the majority of the wide receivers who helped reset the market this offseason. 

Of the five highest-paid wide receivers going into the 2022 season, four of them had to be traded to get their new deals. Just this offseason Tyreek Hill ($30 million per year), Davante Adams ($28 million) and A.J. Brown ($25 million) all were traded before inking new deals. DeAndre Hopkins ($27.3 million) was traded in 2020. Only Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp received a new deal without switching teams.

Still, Rivera is adamant talks with McLaurin have been ongoing. Despite earlier reports that the two sides are “still far apart,” Rivera contests talks have “never been contentious” and that he feels confident the deal will get taken care of in “a matter of time.”