Dan Orlovsky tears into Commanders over Terry McLaurin saga

Dan Orlovsky has a bone to pick with the Washington Commanders as the Terry McLaurin contract saga drags on.

During an appearance Monday on “First Take,” the former NFL quarterback called out the Commanders for letting the situation with their star receiver reach a breaking point with Thursday’s shock trade request, noting McLaurin is at the core of a roster that made a surprise run to last season’s NFC Championship.

“Respectfully, Washington, you were a dumpster fire for years. You were a laughingstock.” Orlovsky said, as covered by Sports Illustrated. “The only thing good about your organization was that young man. Every year, he did it. Year after year after year, for like five or six years, with disaster all around you.”

A third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2019, McLaurin has played in Washington his entire career and has experienced the highs and lows associated with the franchise over the past six seasons.

In his first season under new head coach Dan Quinn and first-year GM Adam Peters, McLaurin tallied 82 receptions for 1,096 and a career-high in touchdowns (13) in 17 regular-season games.

The Commanders, guided by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, upset the heavily favored Lions in the divisional round of the playoffs before falling short to the Eagles in January’s NFC title game.

McLaurin, entering the final year of a three-year, $68.36 million deal, initially held out of training camp amid the ongoing dispute.

Although he showed up in late July, arriving with an ankle injury, McLaurin requested a trade shortly after.

Orlovsky implored Washington brass to recognize they “need” McLaurin in hopes of building off of last year’s success.

“If you don’t have him, you erase everything that you did last year. Everything that you did. And I’m being respectful to Dan Quinn and Adam Peters and what they did last year. You need him. Give me receivers that impact winning as much or if not more than Terry McLaurin. … I’ll give you [Bengals wideout] Ja’Marr [Chase]. I’d give you [Vikings receiver] Justin [Jefferson.] [Lions wideout] Amon-Ra St. Brown. He impacts winning. … What are we doing in Washington?” the ESPN personality said Monday.

McLaurin, 29, is said to be eyeing a deal similar to the five-year, $150 million contract extension DK Metcalf signed with the Steelers earlier this year.

Washington opens its season at home against the Giants on Sept. 7.

It remains to be seen if the Commanders conclude the McLaurin saga by then.