As Terry McLaurin continues to put together consistent results for the Washington Commanders, more and more players in the NFL are giving his skill set the respect it deserves.
Last year, McLaurin made his professional debut on the NFL's annual top 100 players list after putting up a career-high 1,191 yards en route to his third-straight 1,000-yard season. This year, McLaurin is back on the list, coming in at No. 97 entering his fifth season.
McLaurin, like the rest of the Commanders' offense in 2024, was not as productive as he's accustomed to being in years past. He did pass 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive season, making him the first Washington pass-catcher in franchise history to hit that mark, but it took him until the final play of the season, when he turned a screen pass into a 15-yard gain.
However, that does not diminish McLaurin's value to Washington, both in terms of last season and since he first entered the league as a third-round pick in 2019. He led the team in yards for the fourth consecutive season, tied the team lead in receiving touchdowns and had 15 plays of at least 20 yards as well as 47 catches that resulted in first downs.
McLaurin's teammates appreciate his work ethic and steady approach despite the team's struggles over the years, which is why the made sure to pave the way for him on the final play against the Dallas Cowboys to ensure he hit the 1,000-yard mark.
"There's numerous guys who have walked these halls and played on the field out there and had really great seasons," McLaurin said before the season finale. "So…to be the first at anything part of this organization, that would mean a lot."
And while the 2023 season was technically a "down" year for McLaurin, he still managed to prove himself when the Commanders needed an explosive play. His touchdown against the Denver Broncos helped pull off a double-digit comeback in Week 2, and his fourth-quarter score against the Los Angeles Rams nearly brought Washington back from defeat.
The 2023 season also featured a first for McLaurin, as he had one consistent starting quarterback for the entirety of the year in Sam Howell. Now, the hope is that he'll have the same in No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels, who is slated to be the future of the position for years to come.
After working with the quarterback during the offseason workout program, McLaurin is excited about the prospect of a bounce back year catching passes from Daniels.
"He came in really prepared," McLaurin said of Daniels. "I feel like when he was getting [starting] reps or whether he's working with the twos, he does a good job of getting the most out of the reps that he needs to accomplish."
