Terry McLaurin Speaks Out on Departure of Key Commanders Player
Terry McLaurin wasn’t happy to see Curtis Samuel leave the Washington Commanders for the Buffalo Bills in 2024 NFL free agency. McLaurin described Samuel’s departure as “a loss for our room…,” and also outlined a number of reasons why his fellow wide receiver will be missed.
Those reasons include Samuel’s ability to “make plays inside and outside… he kept things light, but he was also a hard worker,” per ESPN’s John Keim.
It’s clear McLaurin believes Samuel will be missed on many levels after signing a three-year deal with the Bills. That’s possible, although it’s also easy to argue the Commanders rarely got the best out of Samuel’s dual-threat skill-set.
What Samuel’s exit means is the pressure is now firmly on McLaurin to lead a revamped receiver corps. The responsibility will require McLaurin becoming a more well-rounded wideout.
Terry McLaurin Can Redefine His Role
McLaurin has thrived as an outside receiver during five productive years in Washington. Four-straight 1,000-yard seasons means the 28-year-old will retain his status as the Commanders’ go-to target, but he’ll need to redefine his role without Samuel.
McLaurin’s usually won by beating coverage on the perimeter. His straight-line speed and the toughness to reel in contested catches in traffic make the 2019 third-round draft pick a classic vertical threat outside the numbers.
Those things showed up when McLaurin burned the New York Giants for this spectacular catch in Week 7.
