ESPN’s annual wide receiver rankings left Terry McLaurin on the outside looking in, and the Washington Commanders star landed all the way down in the “others receiving votes” group.
That put McLaurin fourth in that final category, which would slot him as the NFL’s 20th-ranked wideout in 2026 if you follow ESPN’s list straight through. For a player who has built his reputation on steady production and toughness, it’s a harsh placement.
The omission is easier to understand when you look at what happened last season. McLaurin was hit with the first major injury stretch of his NFL career after a Week 3 quad injury, and he ended up missing seven games. His numbers took a hit across the board, finishing with career lows in catches, yards and touchdowns: 38 receptions, 582 receiving yards and three scores.
Washington’s season was a mess for plenty of reasons, and injuries sat near the top of the list. Jayden Daniels, who had connected with McLaurin for 15 touchdowns the year before, was only available for parts of three games with his top target. The Week 1 win over the Giants was the only full game they played together.
Even so, McLaurin’s resume still makes this ranking feel low. Before Daniels arrived in 2024, McLaurin spent year after year catching passes from a revolving door of quarterbacks.
The names changed, but the production kept coming. He still cleared 1,000 yards, and he did it without missing time to injury.
He also never had a true 1b beside him to take pressure off opposing defenses. Before Daniels, teams knew exactly who Washington was trying to feed, and McLaurin still delivered.
One of the clearest reminders of what he can still do came in the Week 8 loss to the Chiefs. It was his first game back from injury, and with Marcus Mariota at quarterback, McLaurin made two big catches, including a touchdown, to keep Washington in the game. He then reaggravated the injury and missed more time.
Without him, the Commanders’ offense went flat. That matters in a ranking like this. A receiver’s value isn’t just about raw talent; it’s also about what happens when he’s not on the field.
McLaurin already showed a year earlier that he can post elite numbers with a top-tier quarterback. Injuries to both him and Daniels helped wreck Washington’s 2025 season, but McLaurin now gets a fresh start in a new offense. Coordinator David Blough said his goal was to give McLaurin 10 or more targets per game.
For now, McLaurin has a simple answer to ESPN’s ranking: go prove it on the field.
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