Seahawks sign Doug Baldwin to 4-year extension
Jun 28, 2016, 4:23 PM | Updated: Jun 29, 2016, 11:23 am
(AP)
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin has signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks, and it’s a massive one.
According to ESPN’s Ed Werder and others, the deal is worth $46 million and includes approximately $24.25 million in guarantees. The four years add onto the final year of Baldwin’s previous deal, which means he’ll be under contract through the 2020 season.
Seahawks owner Paul Allen tweeted a picture Tuesday afternoon of Baldwin putting pen to paper, calling it a four-year extension. 710 ESPN Seattle’s Gee Scott first reported that the two sides had agreed to a deal.
@Seahawks: Signed tough and sure-handed @DougBaldwinJr to a new 4-year extension. pic.twitter.com/WPuOBVZZL1
— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) June 29, 2016
Baldwin, 27, had been in line for an extension as he was coming off a career season and entering the final year of the three-year, $13 million deal he signed in 2014. That deal averaged $4.33 million a season and included a scheduled $4 million base salary for 2016. The $11.5 million average of Baldwin’s extension ranks seventh among NFL wide receivers, according to the website Spotrac.com.
As 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton wrote earlier Tuesday, Baldwin could reasonably ask for that type of money considering his production as well as recent deals around the NFL that have set the market for receivers of his caliber. Jacksonville’s Allen Hurns and San Diego’s Keenan Allen signed deals earlier this month averaging more than $10 million and $11 million, respectively.
Baldwin, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011, is coming off the best of his five seasons. He set career highs with 78 receptions, 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns. His 14 touchdowns tied for the league lead and broke the previous franchise record.
Because Baldwin had only a year remaining on his contract – whereas defensive lineman Michael Bennett, for instance, has two years left on his deal – he was considered to be the priority among the Seahawks who were in line for an extension.
Earlier this month, Baldwin told 710 ESPN Seattle that he had yet to begin discussions with the Seahawks on an extension. His agent, Buddy Baker, was at the team’s headquarters during a minicamp practice two weeks later.
Now that his extension is done, Baldwin joins quarterback Russell Wilson, receivers Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett, running back Thomas Rawls and tight end Jimmy Graham as key skill players on Seattle’s offense who are under contract for at least the next two seasons.
The other notable Seahawks who have a year remaining on their deals are tight end Luke Willson and kicker Steven Hauschka.