Key Takeaways:
– Washington Commanders’ wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, lands 18th spot in PFF’s list of the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL for the 2024 season.
– The Washington franchise’s new quarterback, Jayden Daniels, is expected to align well with McLaurin’s skills.
– The Commanders have drafted promising new players and signed major free agents to bolster their offense, including Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz.
– Despite the team’s shaky performance, McLaurin has consistently performed with over 1,000 receiving yards for four consecutive seasons.
The Positive Outlook for McLaurin in 2024
As the Washington Commanders continue to navigate through player changes and strategic shifts, one element has remained consistent, their star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. Recently, Sam Monson from PFF positioned McLaurin in the 18th place on his list of the NFL’s top 32 wide receivers of the 2024 season. This recognition comes despite the underperformance of the Commanders in recent seasons, making McLaurin’s accomplishment all the more commendable.
The Secret to McLaurin’s Success
Despite Washington’s shaky track record, including an overall franchise record of 29-53-1 since 2019, McLaurin has consistently been a standout player. Now in his sixth season, the dynamic wide receiver has proven his worth by starting every game in the last three seasons, and achieving four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. These significant milestones echo the faith instilled in him since he was selected by the Commanders in the third-round draft pick in 2019.
Expected Boost in Commanders’ 2024 Performance
The Washington Commanders’ abysmal performance during the 2023 season seems to have prompted a major shakeup in the team for 2024. With the Commanders adding the 2024 No. 2 overall pick, Jayden Daniels, Monson mentions that the new quarterback will hopefully complement McLaurin effectively. Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott and Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey are also new additions, promising to infuse fresh vigor into the team’s offense.
Furthermore, the signing of free agents such as Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz epitomizes the Commanders’ ambitions of strengthening their offense after their 4-13 record last year. Ekeler comes off three consecutive seasons with over 1,000 yards of total offense, while Ertz is a three-time Pro Bowl selection. With these additions, the Commanders’ offense is expected to surge forward during the 2024 season.
Bouncing Back From 2023’s Disappointments
2023 was a standout year for the Commanders for all the wrong reasons, with the team being led to a 4-13 record by former quarterback, Sam Howell. He set unwanted records for the highest number of sacks taken and interceptions in the NFL. The team’s strategy for the 2024 season is characterized by vast improvements in personnel to ensure history will not repeat itself.
The changes also mark a significant period in McLaurin’s career, who has experienced the highs and lows of playing for one of the NFL’s poorly ranked teams. Having played under four different head coaches and with 11 different starting quarterbacks, McLaurin’s strong performance amidst such tumult speaks volumes about his resilience and excellence as a player.
One could then see why the Commanders handed McLaurin a sizable 3-year contract extension in 2022 worth $68.3 million. Despite the team’s struggles, McLaurin’s steadiness and consistent performance have given him recognition in the NFL. With the upcoming 2024 season, there seems to be an optimistic outlook for both McLaurin and the Washington Commanders.