Editor’s note: We’ll count down the top 10 Commanders players on the 2026 roster regardless of position sporadically over the next few weeks. Before we get to it, here’s how we arrived at the ranking: Our Scott Bair, Scott Jennings and Mark Tyler compiled a top 13 – no ranking was identical — with points assigned to each ranking slot from all three lists. We used these point values to form a consensus top 10 ranking. We’ll write a story on each member of the top 10 and another on others receiving
votes at the end. Plus, Mark will probably have a Tyler’s Take with his thoughts. You’ll surely object to some of these rankings, though debate is kind of the point with lists like this. Today we focus on No. 3:
Terry McLaurin has been a staple on the Washington Commanders since the third-round rookie debuted in 2019. He has been the undisputed top wide receiver on the team, and a leader on and off the field. When he’s not playing, Washington’s offense isn’t the same, and that will be the case again for his eighth NFL season.
Our roster rankings : 10. Leo Chenal | 9. Chig Okonwko | 8. Nick Cross | 7. Sam Cosmi | 6. Sonny Styles | 5. Daron Payne | 4. Odafe Oweh
Terry McLaurin was a “special teams guy” with speed when he was drafted by the team Jay Gruden was coaching at the time. Washington tried to hide their hidden gem during his rookie off/preseason, but once the regular season started, the world started to learn who McLaurin was and what he could do. He racked up 919 yards and 7 TDs as a rookie, and that was his only sub-1,000 yard season until last year’s injury-shortened season.
Why Terry McLaurin is ranked No. 3
The Washington Commanders wide receivers room has been getting a lot of attention due to some players that aren’t even on the roster like Branon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs. That’s because a lot of fans see Washington’s WRs as Terry McLaurin and a bunch of WR 3/4/5’s. McLaurin is clearly the top guy, and has been since his rookie season. When he’s on the field, defenses have to pay attention to where he is, and what he’s about to do. When he’s not on the field, finding an open receiver becomes a lot harder for Jayden Daniels.
What he has done
Terry McLaurin is the longest-tenured member of Washington’s offense, and has been a leader since joining the franchise is 2019. He has been the most productive wide receiver on the team and the Commanders continue to search for a solid WR2 to pair with him. McLaurin is expected to be moved around more in David Blough’s offense, a complaint that many fans had about his use under former OC Kliff Kingsbury.
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% | Y/Tgt | Att | Yds | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | Y/A | Y/G | A/G | Touch | Y/Tch | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | AV | Awards |
| 2019 | 24 | WAS | NFL | WR | 14 | 14 | 93 | 58 | 919 | 15.8 | 7 | 43 | 57.0 | 75 | 4.1 | 65.6 | 62.4 | 9.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 58 | 15.8 | 919 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 2020 | 25 | WAS | NFL | WR | 15 | 15 | 134 | 87 | 1118 | 12.9 | 4 | 51 | 50.0 | 68 | 5.8 | 74.5 | 64.9 | 8.3 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 100.0 | 27 | 15.0 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 89 | 12.9 | 1148 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |
| 2021 | 26 | WAS | NFL | WR | 17 | 17 | 130 | 77 | 1053 | 13.7 | 5 | 47 | 50.8 | 46 | 4.5 | 61.9 | 59.2 | 8.1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 100.0 | 12 | 12.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 78 | 13.7 | 1065 | 5 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2022 | 27 | WAS | NFL | WR | 17 | 17 | 120 | 77 | 1191 | 15.5 | 5 | 56 | 55.0 | 52 | 4.5 | 70.1 | 64.2 | 9.9 | 7 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 71.4 | 12 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 84 | 14.5 | 1220 | 5 | 1 | 9 | PB |
| 2023 | 28 | WAS | NFL | WR | 17 | 17 | 132 | 79 | 1002 | 12.7 | 4 | 47 | 49.2 | 48 | 4.6 | 58.9 | 59.8 | 7.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 79 | 12.7 | 1002 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| 2024 | 29 | WAS | NFL | WR | 17 | 17 | 117 | 82 | 1096 | 13.4 | 13 | 66 | 58.1 | 86 | 4.8 | 64.5 | 70.1 | 9.4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 84 | 13.1 | 1098 | 13 | 1 | 12 | PB,AP-2 |
| 2025 | 30 | WAS | NFL | WR | 10 | 10 | 60 | 38 | 582 | 15.3 | 3 | 33 | 61.7 | 56 | 3.8 | 58.2 | 63.3 | 9.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 38 | 15.3 | 582 | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| 7 Yrs | 107 | 107 | 786 | 498 | 6961 | 14.0 | 41 | 343 | 53.7 | 86 | 4.7 | 65.1 | 63.4 | 8.9 | 12 | 73 | 0 | 5 | 66.7 | 27 | 6.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 510 | 13.8 | 7034 | 41 | 3 | 59 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 17 | 125 | 79 | 1106 | 14.0 | 7 | 54 | 53.7 | 86 | 4.7 | 65.1 | 63.4 | 8.9 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 66.7 | 27 | 6.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 81 | 13.8 | 1118 | 7 | 0 | 8 | |||||
What he’ll do next
Terry McLaurin received his new contract last year after a hold-in where he didn’t participate in training camp or the preseason. Then injuries cut his season short and he will be highly motivated, along with the rest of the team, to get the franchise back on track. David Blough has taken over the offense from Kliff Kingsbury, and has already said he’d like to get Terry 10 targets a game. He’s also expected to move McLaurin around the offense more, and the additions of TE Chig Okonkwo and rookie Antonio Williams should give the first-time OC a lot of options.
McLaurin scored the most touchdowns of his career in 2024, his first season with Jayden Daniels as his his quarterback. They both dealt with injuries last season, but their connection has been solid this offseason, and they are expected to thrive together again this season. Daniels will also be dealing with a different offense, playing under center more, and using more play-action. McLaurin will continue to be his top target, and should continue with more freedom in the offense.
