Jayden Daniels Says He, Terry McLaurin Won't 'Miss a Beat' amid WR's Contract Holdout

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't concerned about his on-field connection with Terry McLaurin suffering as the wide receiver holds out for a new contract.

"I think it's an overstated thing," Daniels told reporters Wednesday. "Obviously me and Terry got a very good relationship and that's just the business of the NFL. Whenever the time comes and he's back out there on the field, I don't feel we'll miss a beat."

McLaurin is in the last year of the extension he signed with Washington in 2022. Since penning that deal, the wideout market has continued to explode with the Cincinnati Bengals taking star Ja'Marr Chase past $40 million annually.

McLaurin's $22.8 million average salary ranks 17th at the position. That's also $6 million less than Tee Higgins, Cincinnati's No. 2 pass-catcher, is collecting after he got his own raise from the Bengals.

The two-time Pro Bowler is clearly looking to get paid an amount that reflects the current rate for a receiver with his track record.

McLaurin's holdout isn't the end of the world for the Commanders, but it's not nothing, either. Daniels is still developing as a passer in the NFL and having the full complement of his wideouts available in training camp is important in that regard.

Additionally, it's not a given that — if this holdout extends into late summer or early fall — McLaurin hits the ground running to start the regular season. Maybe it was purely a coincidence that Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb didn't look like himself early into the 2024 campaign after skipping the team's entire offseason program.

Daniels remarks were what you'd want to hear from a quarterback in his situation. He shouldn't say anything that's perceived as throwing his teammate under the bus.

But it's not ideal that one of Washington's best aerial targets is making himself scarce.