The Seahawks have extended a second-round contract tender to wide receiver Doug Baldwin, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). The tender is a one-year contract offer worth $2.187MM, and ensures that Baldwin, a restricted free agent, can’t sign with another team without Seattle having the right to match the offer.
Although Seattle didn’t rely too heavily on its passing attack en route to a Super Bowl win this past season, Baldwin had a solid season, grabbing 50 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns. With three years of NFL experience and no contract for 2014, he can test the market this offseason. If Baldwin signs an offer sheet elsewhere, the Seahawks can either match it or let him walk and receive a second-round pick as compensation from Baldwin’s new team.
I’d be surprised if any team was willing to give up a second-round pick for the right to commit to Baldwin on a multiyear deal, so the likeliest outcome might see the 25-year-old accept the one-year tender offer and return to Seattle. In that scenario, Baldwin would earn $2.187MM in 2014 and be eligible for unrestricted free agency a year from now.