Where might Terry McLaurin land if his trade request is granted by Washington?
Washington Commanders star receiver Terry McLaurin has officially requested a trade from the franchise over wanting a new contract, per multiple reports.
The team has reportedly not had interest in trading him, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, but that can aways change.
McLaurin has played for Washington since 2019, amassing more than a thousand receiving yards each season in a Commanders uniform outside of his rookie campaign. He tallied 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns in the 2024 regular season as then-rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels ascended into superstardom.
However, McLaurin and the team apparently can't come to terms on a new contract, with the wide receiver holding in during the team's 2025 training camp sessions.
If Washington actually trades McLaurin over the contract dispute, he will likely fetch the Commanders a handsome haul. As bizarre as it would be for the team to do this in August, stranger things have indeed happened.
Let's run through five possible candidates who could use an elite talent like McLaurin on their roster. We'll use the Pittsburgh Steelers DK Metcalf trade (a second-round pick and change) as our parameters for McLaurin.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have the most available cap space in the NFL right now, and the team probably loves the idea of pairing McLaurin with second-year quarterback Drake Maye. New England could pay McLaurin what he wants and send the Commanders back an appropriate trade package for what McLaurin is worth. This could be huge for the Patriots, and the Commanders could bring in an established veteran as part of the trade in wideout DeMario Douglas.
Possible Trade: McLaurin to New England for Douglas, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers present a fascinating option for McLaurin, as he could pair with breakout 2024 rookie Ladd McConkey and rookie Tre Harris to give L.A. a blistering trio for quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers could give McLaurin a windfall and cement him as an integral piece to a possible playoff run in 2025 and beyond. We'd guess the Commanders would want a guy like wideout Quentin Johnston back, so we'll include him as part of this trade.
Possible Trade: McLaurin to Los Angeles for Johnston and a 2026 third-round pick
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have one of the thinnest receiver rooms in the NFL, and adding a star like McLaurin to that group would be huge for new quarterback Geno Smith. Las Vegas clearly wants to win now, so getting somebody like McLaurin on the roster would be paramount to making that happen. Perhaps the Raiders would just throw caution to the wind and send a high draft pick Washington's way for a player who would instantly raise the team's 2025 floor. The Raiders have the financial flexibility to get a deal done with McLaurin. We know Smith would absolutely love this.
Possible Trade: McLaurin to Las Vegas for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick
Arizona Cardinals
If the Commanders would be comfortable sending McLaurin to another NFC team, the Cardinals would be an excellent option for him. McLaurin's presence would take pressure off both quarterback Kyler Murray and wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. He would give Murray the best receiver he's had in ages, and he would give Harrison a bit less pressure to carry things in the passing game alongside tight end Trey McBride. Wide receiver Michael Wilson would be a nice piece for the Commanders to add if they deem trading McLaurin in the franchise's best interests.
Possible Trade: McLaurin to Arizona for Wilson and a 2026 third-round pick
Pittsburgh Steelers
With the Steelers going all in on quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2025, it wouldn't be a shock to see Pittsburgh just throw caution to the wind and pay another receiver a lot of money. Sure, it might not be in the franchise's best long-term interests to do this, but the Steelers are operating right now like the long term isn't really a big concern. Pairing McLaurin with DK Metcalf would be a ridiculous one-two punch to give Rodgers for the 2025 season (and whoever follows him at quarterback in 2026 and beyond). This might not be smart for the long haul, but this franchise has pushed all the chips in on the season ahead. Structure the contact right, add a player like wide receiver Calvin Austin III to the trade package and the Steelers can absolutely make it work.
Possible Trade: McLaurin to Pittsburgh for Austin and a 2026 third-round pick
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Terry McLaurin landing spots: Commanders star requests a trade
Category: Football
