Ex-Cowboy criticizes Commanders GM Adam Peters over Terry McLaurin contract

Once Terry McLaurin requested a trade from the Washington Commanders on Thursday, many drew a line in the sand. You either supported the team and general manager Adam Peters or you supported McLaurin.

One former Dallas Cowboy and current ESPN analyst made it clear where he stands: Chris Canty is Team McLaurin, and offered a sharp rebuke of Washington's GM.

"This is a guy, from a culture standpoint, that embodies everything you want your program to be about," Canty said. "Since he came into the league in 2019, Terry McLaurin is top 10 in receiving yards, with over a half dozen quarterbacks throwing him the football. Uber productive. Over the last three years, nobody has more contested catches or tight-window catches than Terry McLaurin."

First off, Canty is 100% correct in everything he said here. No player represents Washington's culture better than McLaurin. He's been loyal, productive, a strong leader, and an essential figure in the community. He's the guy you want representing your franchise in public. He's also an outstanding player on the field, playing with a who's who of average or below-average quarterbacks, and never complained.

But Washington's negotiation with McLaurin is a bit more complex than most. He's almost 30. And while he's coming off a career year, the history of paying receivers over 30 isn't great. There are recent examples, though, like Mike Evans, that offer hope. But Evans isn't paid over $30 million annually either, due to his age (32 this month). Evans' contract has an average annual value of $26 million.

More from Canty.

"I don't understand why you don't wanna pay this guy," he continued. "Sometimes, these organizations, these front offices, they can operate in these negotiations with a tad bit of hubris. And it feels like that's what's happening with Adam Peters right now. Sometimes, the worst thing that can happen to you, in sports and in life, is to have success early on, because you think you know it all. And you try to hardline every single negotiation. You try to win every deal. Here's the thing that every successful business person knows: You can't win every deal. Every contract negotiation ain't gonna be a deal. Sometimes, it's just getting the contract signed. And in this instance, that's exactly what needs to happen with Terry McLaurin, because he means so much to Jayden Daniels. I don't understand why the Washington Commanders aren't taking this approach."

Then, Canty was even more direct regarding Peters.

“If Adam Peters is willing to do this to Terry McLaurin, then he's willing to do it to anybody in that Commanders locker room — and that might be one of the worst messages you could be sending to the rest of the guys involved in your program after having so much success early… https://t.co/DM8U9v673Lpic.twitter.com/ZWDizGcJgM— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) August 1, 2025

“If Adam Peters is willing to do this to Terry McLaurin, then he's willing to do it to anybody in that Commanders locker room — and that might be one of the worst messages you could be sending to the rest of the guys involved in your program after having so much success early on.”

It's easy to speculate who is right and who is wrong here. Perhaps neither. No one knows what's being offered or what's being requested. Canty made several good points, but his criticism of Peters is unfair. He's not involved with these negotiations.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Ex-Cowboy critical of Commanders GM Adam Peters