The Athletic has suggested a handful of Terry McLaurin trade proposals that could entice the Washington Commanders. One of them had to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers giving up a pick and a player.
The Washington Commanders have a difficult situation on their hands when it comes to wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin has been seeking a contract extension this offseason as he prepares to enter the final year of his deal. The 29-year-old hasn't gotten what he wants yet, which has led to his request for a trade.
While we remain hesitant to believe the Commanders would actually deal him with how important he is to Jayden Daniels and the team's chances of winning a Super Bowl, we've seen stranger things happen in today's NFL.
The Athletic had some of their writers offer up proposals for different teams around the NFL to acquire McLaurin's services and Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo suggested this package for the Steelers:
- Steelers receive: WR Terry McLaurin
- Commanders receive: WR Roman Wilson, 2026 third-round pick
"If the Steelers want to give Aaron Rodgers the best chance to make a run in what could be his final season, the biggest bet they could make would be a dynamic receiving threat behind DK Metcalf," DeFabo wrote.
"McLaurin would be an instant and massive upgrade, signaling the Steelers really are 'all in' for Rodgers," he added.
There's no doubt that the Steelers could use an upgrade across from DK Metcalf thanks to their options behind him at wide receiver being shaky.
Calvin Austin has just one decent year of production under his belt, Robert Woods is very clearly on the decline and the jury is still out on Roman Wilson entering his second year after he played just five snaps in 2024.
McLaurin is exactly what the doctor ordered as an established wide receiver who has posted five-straight 1,000-yard campaigns despite lackluster quarterback play in four of them before Daniels arrived.
With Metcalf and McLaurin lining up across from one another, Aaron Rodgers would have one of the best one-two punches at wide receiver in the NFL at his disposal, putting the future Hall of Famer in prime position to help the Steelers make a leap on offense following what was a disappointing season for the unit.
If the Steelers can put it together on offense and combine a consistently effective unit with their defense, which has the potential to be elite, the Steelers have an opportunity to make some serious noise in 2025, a season in which they're obviously going all in.
As far as the suggested trade package is concerned, a third-round pick is about right when you include Wilson, who the Commanders could have an eye on in a potential trade given the void they'll have with McLaurin gone.
Once the trade package is sorted out, the Steelers would have to work out a contract extension with McLaurin, who is probably seeking somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million per.
The Steelers might be able to make that work, seeing as how the team is projected to have $32.6 million in cap space in 2026 and $139 million in 2027.
On the surface, it might not be prudent to pay two wide receivers $30 million or more, but we also have to remember that the Steelers are going for it this year.
Furthermore, having Metcalf and McLaurin in 2026, when the Steelers could have a rookie quarterback with Rodgers likely to retire, would be hugely beneficial. If the Steelers go the veteran quarterback route next year, they'd be a much more attractive destination with those two on the roster.
Again, the Commanders are going to try their best not to trade McLaurin, but if that becomes unavoidable, Pittsburgh should be aggressive in trying to land a player who could be the missing piece.
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Category: Football
