Washington

Commanders

“I’ve been pretty frustrated, not gonna lie,” McLaurin told reporters Tuesday. “Everything that has transpired has been pretty disappointing. I want to continue my career here, I’ve created my life here, so I want to be here.” With Washington’s training camp scheduled to start on July 22, McLaurin said he hasn’t decided if he will report or not, though he also added “Without any progressive discussions, it’s hard to see me stepping on the field.” McLaurin, who was 15th in receiver receptions and 12th in receiving yards in 2024, is entering his age-30 season. The Commanders might be hesitant to commit long term to their de facto WR1.

Fowler adds that the Commanders have “a couple of weeks here to make progress” before training camp begins on July 22. McLaurin has skipped all offseason workouts thus far, so it stands to reason he could continue the absentee strategy later this month. Training camp is a critical time for NFL teams, allowing players to safely ramp up ahead of preseason play, not to mention the regular season. McLaurin profiles as a fantasy football WR2 this year.

According to Schefter, the two sides “have not made any progress” on negotiations. McLaurin is entering the final year of a three-year extension he signed in 2022, and will turn 30 shortly after the start of the season. A consistent 1,000-yard producer, McLaurin caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and a career high 13 touchdowns last season, and is rumored to be seeking out a deal that would pay him close to $30 million per year. That would put him in the range of players like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and A.J. Brown, and make him one of the 10 highest paid receivers in the league. It’s hard to imagine the two sides not agreeing to terms before the start of the season, but it may not come without a few difficult conversations. McLaurin projects as a solid WR2 in fantasy this season, but could face added competition for targets with Deebo Samuel now in the mix.

The Commanders huddled up on just 459 offensive snaps last season, the fewest in the NFL, though they promisingly averaged the fifth-most EPA per play (0.104) and EPA per dropback (0.204) on those snaps. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe adds that Daniels has been bulking up this offseason, “to handle the workload this year.” Daniels remains a high-end QB1 entering year two.

The Commanders and Mayor Muriel Bowser had previously asked the D.C. Council to vote on the proposal by July 15, but the hearings will delay the vote, much to the chagrin of team officials. Per The Washington Times, Commanders officials said this week that any delay—even a few weeks for a council vote—could jeopardize the planned 2030 opening date. D.C. Council chairman Phil Mendelson dismissed the concerns and proposed legislation that would separate the stadium legislation from budget negotiations on Friday, ostensibly hoping to speed things along as best he can. With the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup coming to the United States and Mexico, both D.C. and the team are incentivized to get the stadium approved as soon as possible.

Keim said Cosmi was able to do some “light jogging” and “agility work,” off to the side during Commanders’ practices. Cosmi may still be a long shot to return early in the season, but this is better than pessimistic news. At just 26 years old, Cosmi serves as a key fixture of the Commanders’ offensive line.

Reaves is primarily a special teamer for the Commanders, making the 2022 Pro Bowl and being named first-team All-Pro for his skillset. He suffered a partially torn ACL in 2023 and signed a two-year deal to stay in Washington last offseason. The Commanders now reward his productive special teams performance with a one-year extension that keeps Reaves signed through 2026.

The Athletic’s Ben Standig reports that Brown stayed on the ground for a while after making a catch. He was down “for a few extra beats” before walking to the sideline under his own power. Brown then rode the cart into the building. The fact that Brown was able to get up and walk off the field is a good sign, though you never want to see the cart come out for a player. Fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane could mix in as the team’s No. 3 receiver if Brown were to miss any time.

Sinnott heads into his sophomore season after a rookie campaign that saw him play well behind veteran Zach Ertz, who re-signed with Washington in March. Sinnott, a second round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, caught all five of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in 2024; his touchdown came on a fake punt. It would appear Sinnott’s only viable path to real playing time in the Commanders offense would be Ertz missing time.

It’s been expected for a bit as McLaurin seeks a contract extension this offseason. The consensus per beat reporters is that the deal will get done, but may not happen until training camp actually comes close to starting. We don’t have any real concerns about drafting McLaurin in Best Ball at this point, just know that beat reporters don’t bat 1.000 and this still could turn into a “hold in” situation should the Commanders and McLaurin not make progress on the contract.