On Wednesday, former Washington Commanders HC Jay Gruden joined podcasters Doug McCray and George Carmi to share various thoughts and insights on his old team.
Among the subjects brought up was star WR Terry McLaurin, who Gruden showered with some resounding praise.
During the show, at just past the eight-minute mark, Gruden claimed that he wanted to draft McLaurin, who Washington took in the third round in 2019 (76th overall) with the team's first-round selection that was used on the late Dwayne Haskins.
"We were just hoping and praying he'd last that long," Gruden said of McLaurin. "I'd have been happy to take him in the first. They said they were taking the kid from Ohio State, and I said 'Terry?' And they said 'No, Dwayne.'"
For McLaurin, it worked out for both parties regardless. The star wideout has amassed at least 1,000 receiving yards in every season of his NFL career besides his rookie year, and is on pace to do so again in 2024. This season has been arguably his best yet, as his nine touchdowns are already a career-high.
Sadly the same cannot be said about Haskins, who was released by Washington late in the 2020 season and tragically died in a road accident in April of 2022. One can only wonder about what could have been in a world where Haskins thrived in the NFL, and built a longtime connection in D.C. with his college teammate.
On the other hand, had the Commanders taken McLaurin with the pick that was used on Haskins, perhaps that third-round pick might have been used on a star at a different position. Bobby Okereke, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Maxx Crosby were among the notable names selected shortly after him.
Nevertheless, the bottom line remains that Terry McLaurin is a Commander, and Washington is glad to have him.
