Jayden Daniels confident Commanders, star WR Terry McLaurin will end stalemate

Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders remain locked in a contract stalemate, a long-running saga that has been the defining storyline of the team’s offseason.

But quarterback Jayden Daniels isn’t worried. In fact, he says he’s confident an agreement will be reached.

“Hundred percent, I feel great (about the situation),” Daniels told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on the latest episode of “Scoop City,” which will drop Friday.

Asked why he felt confident that his top receiver would be back on the field, Daniels said: “I just know that it is all gonna work out, that both sides will come to an agreement and Terry’s gonna be back out here. We’re gonna be throwing some passes to him.”

Daniels and McLaurin built instant chemistry last season, connecting on 12 of the career-high 13 touchdowns McLaurin caught on the way to his second Pro Bowl nod in the past three years.

McLaurin requested a trade July 31, and The Athletic has reported that he wants more than DK Metcalf received in the four-year deal he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this year (an average annual salary of $33 million).

If McLaurin gets over that average annual value, it would put him in the top four among receivers (Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Metcalf).

In the interview with Russini, the 24-year-old Daniels also spoke about his relationship with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and how his presence helps balance a veteran-heavy locker room.

“I think you gotta ask them personally, but I think they like being around me ’cause I keep ’em young,” he said.

Washington opens its season at home Sept. 7 against the NFC East rival New York Giants.

(Photo: G Fiume / Getty Images)