Is it getting a little Scary?

Before the "Scary Terry" moniker stuck, there were a number of alternative nicknames tossed around to reflect McLaurin’s well-respected stature in burgundy and gold. My personal favourite? Touchdown Terry — which, I’ve always felt, carried a touch more charm than the now-familiar “Scary.”

Ironically, it’s the touchdowns that might end up being the defining stat for McLaurin in 2024 — and the number his agent is likely pointing to as a key indicator that this WR is entering his absolute NFL prime.

In the 2024 regular season, only one wide receiver caught more touchdown passes than McLaurin’s 13: Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, who led the league with 17. Those 13 TDs came with McLaurin finally paired with a quarterback of real promise — rookie sensation Jayden Daniels. And with Daniels, Washington may have found the kind of franchise QB you build around for a decade or more.

So why the hesitation from the Commanders front office? Why isn’t this deal already done — especially now that the high-character McLaurin has formally requested a trade out of D.C.?

Well, first and foremost, Washington controls the situation. McLaurin is under contract for 2025, and the team could easily apply the franchise tag in 2026. Given he turns 30 in September, it’s plausible the front office feels they’ll be getting the best version of McLaurin in ’25 and ’26.

From a business standpoint, they may simply prefer to pay his $15.5M base salary this season, then tag him in 2026 for around $26M — without committing long term to a player they suspect may decline post-32.

But there’s a counterpoint worth serious thought: Why not pay a little extra for a receiver who just had a career-best year, who’s finally got his quarterback, and who clearly remains essential to the roster — especially while Daniels is still on a rookie deal?

You don’t hand out contracts based solely on past performance, of course. But you do weigh locker room presence, peak production, and availability — all areas where McLaurin excels. He rarely misses time, and has repeatedly played through injuries without complaint.

The fact that McLaurin has requested a trade is telling — it suggests that the two sides are far apart on long-term value. And that raises an uncomfortable question: How will an unsettled McLaurin perform in 2025 if no long-term deal materializes? A holdout feels unlikely, but not impossible — especially for someone of McLaurin’s stature. A missed game or two wouldn’t be out of the question.

This one could drag on. And after such an upbeat 2024, that’s a scary thought indeed.