BRADY HENDERSON

Baldwin hoping for long-term deal with Seahawks

Apr 22, 2014, 10:54 PM | Updated: 11:06 pm

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By Brady Henderson

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin has signed his name on the dotted line – just not the one on his restricted-free-agent tender from the Seahawks.

Baldwin-mug-2
Baldwin

Baldwin told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Wyman, Mike and Moore” on Tuesday that he has yet to do so. What he has signed is a clearance waiver that allows him to participate in Seattle’s offseason workout program – which began Monday – despite not being under contract.

Seattle gave Baldwin a second-round tender that amounts to a one-year deal worth $2.187 million, which would be a significant raise from what he made over the first three years of the deal he signed as an undrafted rookie in 2011.

By waiting to sign the RFA tender, Baldwin is still eligible to receive a larger offer elsewhere until the May 2 deadline to sign offer sheets. Any team that signs Baldwin to an offer sheet would give the Seahawks a second-round pick if Seattle decides not to match it, but there’s been no indication of such interest.

And Baldwin has made it clear that he’d like to stay put.

“I want to be a Seattle Seahawk and I want to be a Seattle Seahawk for a long time,” he said. “I love it here, I love the organization and I’m focused on doing what I can to improve and get ready for this upcoming season, whether that’s with a tender or whether that’s with something else that we work out. Hopefully is with a long-term deal, that’s what I’m hoping for, whether that’s this year or next year.”

Baldwin has been a starter since his rookie season and is considered one of the league’s top slot receivers. Last season he also showed the ability to play outside while making a number of key receptions, all of which strengthened his case for a new deal. It doesn’t sound like one is coming anytime soon, though.

When asked if he’s currently in negotiations for a long-term deal, Baldwin said: “I wouldn’t say that. I would say that if it’s a possibility, we’re going to try to. But obviously there are some things that have got to be hashed out beforehand.”

Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson.

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