The Seahawks are making an effort to extend contract-year wide receiver Doug Baldwin, head coach Pete Carroll said Thursday (via Jayson Jenks of The Seattle Times). “The intent is to get him signed and secured for a good while. So we’ll see if we can get that done,” said Carroll, who added that the two sides are “meeting on it right now, so we’re working at it.” It stands to reason that Baldwin – coming off a career season that saw him total personal bests in nearly all major categories – could look for a deal along the lines of the extensions the Jaguars’ Allen Hurns and the Chargers’ Keenan Allen signed earlier this month. Hurns and Allen agreed to four-year pacts worth upward of $40MM apiece, including over $20MM in guarantees each.
More from Seattle and two other NFC cities:
- Since last season ended, the Eagles have focused more on their long-term future than immediately trying to improve on their 7-9 output in 2015, writes Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer. As a result, owner Jeffrey Lurie and the front office are ready to accept another lean year, according to Ford. That wouldn’t be an optimal outcome, but Ford opines that patience is in order for the Eagles’ fan base. “We knew that we had to get a little uncomfortable for this season and next season, really, to build something that hopefully lasts and gives us a chance at being a really good team again for a long period of time,” executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said. Roseman made a slew of future-minded moves during the offseason – including trading up in the draft to select quarterback Carson Wentz second overall and doling out extensions to several cornerstone players.
- In other Seahawks news, Carroll stated Thursday that he expects tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Thomas Rawls to be ready for the regular season. “They would have to incur some issues that we can’t foresee right now for that not to happen,” he told the team’s website. Graham suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 12 after posting disappointing numbers (48 catches, two touchdowns), while Rawls’ stellar rookie year ended in Week 14 on account of a broken ankle. With Marshawn Lynch having retired, the Seahawks are counting on Rawls to once again look the part of a star back. The former undrafted free agent from Central Michigan rushed for 830 yards on a tremendous 5.6 per-carry average and combined for five touchdowns in 2015.
- After tearing his Achilles last August and missing the entire 2015 season, Redskins linebacker Junior Galette is on track to return for the start of training camp. “I’m definitely going to be out there with them. I just can’t overcompensate like I did last year,” Galette told Mike Jones of the Washington Post, implying that he came back too soon from a torn pectoral muscle and set himself up for the Achilles injury. Galette, a double-digit-sack defender for the Saints in both 2013 and ’14, re-signed with the Redskins on an inexpensive one-year deal during the winter.