Seahawks’ Doug Baldwin reflects on path to NFL, looks ahead after signing $46M extension
Jun 29, 2016, 6:58 PM | Updated: Jun 30, 2016, 10:58 am
(AP)
Five years before Doug Baldwin signed an extension with the Seahawks that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers, he was trying desperately just to land an office job.
Baldwin had gone undrafted following a strong senior season at Stanford, and with the lockout preventing teams from even contacting rookie free agents, there was no telling when or if his chance in the NFL would come. He had played football since he was 6 years old, but not knowing what was going to happen next, Baldwin was, in his words, lost.
Already working two jobs on campus and about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in science, technology and society, Baldwin said he applied to “every job imaginable in the Bay Area.” One of them was at Dropbox, a file sharing and storage company headquartered in San Francisco.
“I was supposed to have an interview with them, but the lockout ended so I didn’t have to do that, fortunately enough,” Baldwin said. “I was struggling. Obviously, I didn’t have any job experience. I was fresh off the campus. Fortunate enough, I didn’t have to go through all of that.”
Indeed, Baldwin became a star receiver instead of a nine-to-fiver. He is now compensated as such with a four-year extension that is reportedly worth $46 million, including $24.25 million guaranteed. According to the website Spotrac.com, the total value of Baldwin’s extension ranks eighth among NFL receivers while the annual average and guaranteed amount rank seventh.
Baldwin reflected on how far he’s come when he joined 710 ESPN Seattle on Wednesday, a day after signing his deal.
“I feel good,” Baldwin told Gee Scott. “Obviously, I’m blessed to have a little bit more security in my life in terms of the contract, but nothing really changes. The goal is still the same. We’ve got to win some championships.”
Baldwin said the first thing he did once he signed the extension was call his mother. He had told her that he and his agent were in conversation with the Seahawks but hadn’t kept her up to date with what was happening. Baldwin said she was “kind of in shock” and “really happy” once she found out Tuesday that it was a done deal.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to share those moments with people that I love,” he said. “So it was a special moment for us.”
So how does someone celebrate signing a $46 million extension? Baldwin said he doesn’t have any plans to other than spending time with his family. He spent Wednesday morning running routes and catching passes from Seahawks backup quarterback Jake Heaps, who tweeted pictures of their workout.
Baldwin has other plans, though. He’s partnering with the City of Renton and the Renton School District in an effort to build a community center. He’s also having a house built in the area and he’s engaged to be married. He said his big payday won’t alter his wedding plans.
“I will not be wearing a cape,” he joked, referring to the outfit teammate Earl Thomas wore to his wedding in April. “It’s just going to be the same plans we had set forth: real simple, real casual, just celebrating our love for each other.”
Scott, noting Baldwin’s frugality, asked what he’ll splurge on first.
“I’m not sure, to be honest with you. I’m not sure I will splurge,” he said. “I think the most important thing for me is setting up the future for my kids and for my grandkids. So I’m going to be really smart with it in investments and trying to make sure I’m setting up a legacy.”