Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Terry McLaurin isn’t talked about enough. When people are listing off the best receivers in the game, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase often come to mind. McLaurin’s name is rarely uttered in any top ten conversation. It isn’t necessarily surprising as his stats do not compare to the likes of Jefferson and Chase. However, a closer look reveals how good Terry McLaurin has been since he entered the league.
Terry McLaurin: Raw Stats From His First Four Seasons
Let’s start with the raw stats. McLaurin entered the league in 2019 and has played four full seasons.
2019: 58 receptions, 919 yards and 7 touchdowns
2020: 87 receptions, 1,118 yards and 4 touchdowns
2021: 77 receptions, 1,053 yards and 5 touchdowns
2022: 77 receptions, 1,191 yards and 5 touchdowns
These are some pretty good stats for a young receiver. Anytime that a player breaks the 1,000 yard mark it is an accomplishment. Now, you might be saying, “But Matt! Justin Jefferson has had 1,400, 1,616, and 1,809 receiving yards in his first three seasons. How is McLaurin just as good?” To answer that question we need some context.
Who’s Throwing The Ball To Terry McLaurin?
Since McLaurin entered the league, here is the complete list of quarterbacks the Redskins/Commanders have had.
2019: Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, and Colt McCoy
2020: Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, and Kyle Allen
2021: Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Garrett Gilbert
2022: Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz, and Sam Howell
Who’s the best of that bunch? Alex Smith after his leg had to be nearly amputated? Taylor Heinicke who is now a backup quarterback with the Falcons? This is not a great bunch. The fact that McLaurin has been able to be this productive with these quarterbacks is a testament to his skill.
A Deeper Look At The Stats
There are some other numbers that show the value of McLaurin. He hasn’t missed a game in his career. 17 games every year. Reliability is essential on an NFL team. Many players have come to the NFL with huge promise but have not been able to stay on the field due to injury. Furthermore, he has improved every year showing his work ethic.
He is also surehanded. Last season, McLaurin caught 95.1 percent of his catchable targets. This looks even better when you realize that nearly 40 percent of McLaurin’s targets were uncatchable. In 2021 he was in the 94th percentile success rate vs. man and press while also posting a career-best 80.3% success rate vs. zone. He knows how to find the holes in the coverage and exploit them.
Check Out More From The Forkball!
The reason that Terry McLaurin does not get talked about is that his environment hasn’t been great. The ownership situation (which is getting fixed) plus the revolving door at quarterback have dampened McLaurin’s numbers. I hope the team can find a reliable quarterback because I think we have yet to see the full potential of the young wide receiver.
