After a stunning 12-5 2024 season, the Commanders & Jayden Daniels eye the Super Bowl. But will an unresolved Terry McLaurin contract derail their hopes?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just a year ago, the question was if the Commanders could even be relevant. Now, after a stunning 12-5 season and a trip to the NFC Championship game, the only question is: Super Bowl? The Jayden Daniels effect is real, the city is buzzing, but as the calendar flips to July, a storm cloud is gathering in the form of an unresolved contract dispute with the heart and soul of the receiving corps, Terry McLaurin.
Finishing 12-5 for their best record since 1991, the Commanders didn't just have a good season; they rewrote the franchise's recent history in a single year.
It's hard to overstate the impact of Jayden Daniels. The rookie QB didn't just play well; he revitalized a franchise. Analyses pouring in today confirm what we all saw: an offense that improved by a staggering 156 points and a team that exceeded every wild prediction to come within one game of the Super Bowl. With Dan Quinn at the helm, new OC Kliff Kingsbury is now tasked with unlocking the next level for Daniels, while DC Joe Whitt Jr. looks to build on a defense that leaped to 18th in the league. The 2024 surprise run is over; this is the new standard.
While the team basks in the glow of its 2024 success, the front office faces its most critical offseason test: the contract of Terry McLaurin. Reports today confirmed that tensions persist, with no new deal imminent. While the team publicly states its commitment to 'Scary Terry,' actions speak louder than words. For a young QB like Daniels, having a reliable, elite veteran like McLaurin is non-negotiable. He's more than just the team's leading receiver; he's a captain and the standard-bearer. Allowing this conflict to linger into training camp would be a massive, unforced error for a team with championship aspirations.
The talk of the town, spurred by recent video analysis, is whether the Commanders are a one-year wonder or a budding dynasty. Last year, they were the hunters, shocking the league week after week. In 2025, they'll have a giant target on their back. Every opponent will bring their A-game. Can Daniels avoid a sophomore slump? Can the new coordinators build on last year's foundation? The journey back to the NFC Championship, let alone to the Super Bowl, will be exponentially harder. The talent is there, but proving it twice is the true mark of greatness.
The pieces are in place for a historic 2025 season. Washington has its franchise quarterback, a coaching staff with a clear vision, and the belief that they belong among the NFC's elite. But the road to the Super Bowl is paved with tough decisions. The first, and most important, is ensuring Terry McLaurin is on that road with them, signed, sealed, and delivered. Get that done, and the sky is truly the limit.
