Ron Rivera says Terry McLaurin's extension impacts entire Washington Commanders organization

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera viewed receiver Terry McLaurin as more than just a receiver who needed to be extended. He was a key player for an organization trying to rebuild its image amid a congressional investigation.

«He's an organizational signing,» Rivera said. «It impacts not just the football side but the business side. It tells people we want to retain young men of this stature; we want young men of this magnitude out there representing our organization.»

Congress has investigated Washington owner Dan Snyder since October. It held a hearing on June 22 that Snyder declined to attend or to testify via video call. The House Oversight committee's Democratic leadership continues to negotiate with Snyder's attorneys to get him to testify about Washington's workplace culture.

The drumbeat of the congressional story has drowned out other organizational on-field news. When McLaurin skipped the on-field voluntary OTA work and then the mandatory three-day minicamp, fans feared more bad news was headed their way. McLaurin worked his way from a third-round pick in 2019 — expected to be a key special teams player and backup receiver — to a guy with two 1,000-yard seasons in his first three.

Rivera stressed to McLaurin his importance to the organization in a phone call during minicamp — when McLaurin was training in Florida.

«He emphasized the priority from ownership on down was to get the deal done,» McLaurin said.

By the time Washington left minicamp on June 16, there was optimism McLaurin would soon be extended. He agreed to his three-year contract worth up to $71 million — with a $28 million signing bonus — last week and signed it Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Rivera centered the McLaurin signing around