The Seahawks have announced the signing of wide receiver Doug Baldwin to a four-year contract extension worth $46MM, including $24.25MM in guarantees. Baldwin – who’s set to rake in $4MM this year before his extension kicks in next season – has become the sixth-highest-paid wideout in the NFL and is now under Seahawks control through 2020.
The 27-year-old Baldwin is the third high-profile receiver to ink a new deal this month, joining the Chargers’ Keenan Allen and the Jaguars’ Allen Hurns. Allen and Hurns also landed four-year pacts worth more than $40MM. Their extensions include between $20MM and $24MM in guarantees, so Baldwin will leapfrog both in contract value.
Baldwin, whom the Seahawks signed as an undrafted free agent from Stanford in 2011, has emerged as one of the NFL’s best, most durable wideouts. After combining for 130 receptions on 14.9 yards per catch and 12 touchdowns in 46 regular-season games during his first three years, Baldwin totaled 144 grabs on 13.2 YPC and 17 scores in 32 straight appearances over the previous two campaigns. The 5-foot-10, 189-pounder set career marks in 2015 in catches (78), yards (1,069) and TDs (14, which also tied for the league lead) for the playoff-bound Seahawks, with whom he has appeared in the postseason in four consecutive years. As a result of his work last season, Baldwin finished in a second-place tie with A.J. Green in Football Outsiders’ wideout rankings.
Baldwin is now the 10th member of Seattle’s veteran core who’s locked up through at least the 2018 campaign, as Field Yates of ESPN tweets. The team also has quarterback Russell Wilson, fellow receiver Jermaine Kearse, defensive end Cliff Avril, defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin, linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas and punter Jon Ryan slated to play the next three or more seasons in the Pacific Northwest.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the extension. ESPN’s Ed Werder was first to report the guaranteed amount. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Baldwin is the 6th highest paid WR now? Incredible. Instead of getting an actual #1 WR worth big money, the Seahawks just give it to the guy who is their default #1 because they don’t have good WRs. Good for him though. Save your money Doug.