Joe Theismann says Commanders need to pay Terry McLaurin, compares him to Jerry Rice

USA Today

20 hours ago

The Washington Commanders will have a Terry McLaurin problem on their hands if they don't act soon.
As the team tries to build off a phenomenal 2024 season that saw it fall in the NFC championship game, the Commanders can't afford to break up the band now. That is especially true regarding McLaurin, who has been a fixture in the lineup since entering the league in 2019.
That isn't lost on Joe Theismann, the quarterback that led Washington to its first Super Bowl championship in the 1982 season. He joined Kay Adams on "Up & Adams" on July 8, where he discussed McLaurin's contract situation and why the Commanders need to get a deal done.
"That would be a major problem for all of us that appreciate what the Commanders have done, what Terry has done," Theismann said of McLaurin's contract situation and his potential departure. "His intangibles and his value to this football team are even more outweighed than his talent, which we know is extreme."
The former quarterback didn't hold back, insisting that the star receiver must be paid.
"He needs to be paid," Theismann said. "He needs to be paid right away. We need to put this issue behind us as a football team. He is one of the leaders. And he's a guy that you can always count on."
McLaurin has been a model citizen for Washington since he was drafted in the third round with the 76th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has played four consecutive seasons without missing a game.
Until 2024, McLaurin hadn't enjoyed great quarterback play during his time in the nation's capital. Despite those challenges, McLaurin has notched at least 1,000 yards in five of his six seasons and found the end zone 13 times in 2024 with rookie Jayden Daniels taking over under center.
Theismann argued that "Scary Terry" is the best receiver in the game, even comparing him to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.
"He's faster than people think," Theismann said. "He sort of fits into that Jerry Rice category, where he's not a burner, he doesn't get all the publicity, he doesn't get all the hype, but he's as good as anybody that plays this game."
Theismann added that the receiver is the piece that holds the team together and Washington can't afford to be without him – pointing out that losing someone like McLaurin would only hurt Daniels.
McLaurin made headlines when he opted to skip mandatory minicamp in early June, bringing the contract issue to the forefront.
The 29-year-old, who will turn 30 in September, is entering the last year of his three-year, $68.3 million deal, according to Spotrac. With the receiver market trending up and his contract set to expire, McLaurin is looking to cash in.
In Theismann's eyes, the Commanders don't have a choice. As the regular season kickoff approaches, the team might begin to feel the same way.
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