JOHN CLAYTON

Projecting Doug Baldwin’s contract extension with the Seahawks

Jun 28, 2016, 9:28 AM | Updated: 9:43 am

Doug Baldwin got a four-year, $46 million extension after the best season of his career. (AP)...

Doug Baldwin got a four-year, $46 million extension after the best season of his career. (AP)

(AP)

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin tweeted Monday, “Loyalty over Royalty.”

Though there was no translation over what was really meant by that statement, you get the feeling that a little bit of frustration is slipping into his negotiations for a contract extension. That doesn’t mean there’s a problem. Baldwin should come out of this fine.

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Baldwin is the key Seahawk in line for a contract extension. He did well in 2014 when he signed a three-year, $13 million contract. At the time, he was considered a very good slot receiver, and slot receivers at that time got around $4 million a year.

Baldwin was a restricted free agent but hadn’t signed his tender. He and his agent considered it a two-year deal worth $11 million, which was the new money added onto his one-year RFA tender. The league and the Players Association viewed it as a three-year deal because it was a new contract that lasted three years, not a two-year extension.

Nevertheless, Baldwin could start his negotiations for an extension this offseason knowing he’s not going to get less than $5.5 million a year. He should be able to strike a nice deal.

Baldwin has evolved into a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver. Because his best work is in the inside of the field, he won’t be able to command the $14 million-a-year contract given to top outside threats. Still, he does have the clout to think in the $10 million- to $11 million-a-year range. Randall Cobb of the Packers makes $10 million. Keenan Allen of the Chargers just received a deal averaging $11 million.

My projection is that Baldwin is going to get somewhere between $8.5 million and $9.5 million a year. Maybe that’s the explanation of loyalty over royalty.

About a month ago, Allen Hurns of the Jaguars signed a four-year extension worth $40 million. Like Baldwin, Hurns was undrafted. He’s entering his third season.

On the surface, it may look like Baldwin would be signing for less than Hurns with a deal averaging between $8.5 million and $9.5 million, but in reality, he wouldn’t be. Hurns was scheduled to make $600,000 in the final year of his rookie deal. The team and the league looked at Hurns’ 2016 salary and lumped it in with the four new years, making it a five-year contract for slightly over $40 million, or a little over $8 million a year.

That deal should help push Baldwin well into the $8 million range and possibly into the $9 million range.

Making Baldwin happy with a new contract is important. Thirteen of the 15 highest-paid Seahawks are under contract beyond 2016. Baldwin and kicker Steven Hauschka are the only ones in that group whose contracts expire after the season.

Cap-wise, the Seahawks have $10.1 million of room. With Baldwin’s current cap number at $6.325 million, his new deal would give them additional room that could be carried over into next year while also providing plenty of cushion in case of injuries.

Baldwin has the loyalty. Now, he needs the financial royalty.

Want more John Clayton? Listen on-demand to his weekday and Saturday shows as well as his “Cold Hard Facts” and “Clayton’s Morning Drive” segments on 710 ESPN Seattle. Also, check out his all-new “Schooled” podcast and look for his columns twice a week on 710Sports.com.

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