When “Doing the Right Thing” Isn’t So Simple: The McLaurin Contract Standoff

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
July 29, 2025

In the 2003 crime thriller S.W.A.T., Captain Thomas Fuller (played by Larry Poindexter) said “sometimes doing the right thing isn’t doing the right thing” when reacting to a decision made by a member of his team. It’s merely one line out of a two-hour movie that wasn’t ever meant to wax philosophical on life, but it truly makes an interesting point that applies across multiple situations. That being, sometimes making the decision that feels right to you isn’t what is right for others involved, and vice versa.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s apply it where it matters most to us here at Versus Sports Simulator: sports. With NFL training camps underway, championship hopefuls are taking the first steps towards achieving their goal to end the season by lifting the Lombardi Trophy and recording promos for Disney World. The Washington Commanders are no exception. A year after an improbable run to the NFC Championship game, Dan Quinn’s crew is looking to take another step forward with a retooled defense and a stable offense led by second-year sensation Jayden Daniels at quarterback. Except, there’s one thing missing – Daniels’ top target. Terry McLaurin, set to be playing in the final season of a three-year $68.3 million contract, is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list with an ankle injury. But more importantly, he is “holding in” at camp – reporting without participating while trying to broker a new deal ahead of the season. For McLaurin, the Washington front office and the fans, doing the right thing is three different things. Which one is correct? Take a look and decide for yourself.

The Right Thing for McLaurin

For Terry McLaurin, holding in and getting a new deal before play starts is the right thing for him. He’s been the rock for every Washington quarterback through thick and VERY thin times since he was drafted in 2019. Over his six seasons, McLaurin has caught 460 passes for 6,379 yards and 38 touchdowns – including 13 from Daniels. That’s more catches and yards, but fewer touchdowns than DK Metcalf over the same time frame, who had four years and $132 million added to the final year of his contract by the Steelers after being picked up from the Seahawks. As an equally productive wide receiver, McLaurin wants to make his market value. And, if he’s going to get his market value – he needs to get it now, not later. McLaurin will turn 30 years old during the season – two years older than Metcalf. Despite his talent, the pool of 30-year-old wide receivers receiving top dollar contracts is very small. The right thing for McLaurin is to get a contract signed before the season and before he potentially hits the open market.

The Right Thing for Fans

Well, the right thing for the Washington faithful is very obvious – get McLaurin on the field now. With a preseason strength of schedule that ranks eighth in the league, Commanders fans want their best players to be in sync immediately and ready to go. Get a deal done, get it done now. Does this mean that General Manager Adam Peters needs to suck it up and pay McLaurin what his star player feels he’s worth? Does this mean that McLaurin needs to understand that his perceived value isn’t as high as he thinks it is? For fans it doesn’t matter … for fans the right thing is for McLaurin to be on the field.

The Right Thing for Commanders GM Adam Peters

This isn’t Peters’ first rodeo. The GM knows what McLaurin’s value is to the Commanders now and later. He knows the relationship that McLaurin has with the fans. The McLaurin contract dispute is likely to be the first personnel decision he makes that could make him some enemies amongst those sitting in the stands. For Peters, it’s simple: McLaurin is a great and valuable player. However, he’s older than other wide receivers receiving new contracts, and simply has less time left in his career. Can he justify paying McLaurin the same money that the Steelers are paying Metcalf? As good as McLaurin is – does he command the same respect that, say, 31-year-old Mike Evans gets? And if so, the future Hall Of Famer is playing out a two-year, $41 million deal, which might actually make more financial sense. Ultimately, the right thing for Peters is the right thing for the Commanders future, and Peters will likely be OK letting McLaurin sit out for now and applying the franchise tag on him next year instead of letting him walk away completely unrestricted.