With one year remaining on his contract and coming off a season that saw him tied for the league lead for receiving touchdowns, wide receiver Doug Baldwin is a prime candidate to get a new contract with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason.
The Seahawks’ front office is usually amenable to contract extensions for core players when they have one year left on their contracts. Baldwin fits the bill perfectly of players Seattle has looked to lock up for the long term in recent seasons. However, Baldwin told Mitch Levy and Mike Holmgren on 950 KJR in Seattle on Wednesday that contract talks have not yet begun.
“No we haven’t had any talks,” Baldwin said. “And to be completely honest with you I’m not too concerned with it. I’m enjoying my time right now with my training and my fiancée. I’m anxious to get back out there with my teammates.
“To be completely honest with you, I’m not really worried about it. I’m having fun playing football. I’m enjoying my time, I’m enjoying my life right now. So whatever happens, I’m going to leave it up to God and he’ll direct me in whatever direction I need to go.”
Baldwin exploded last season in racking up 14 touchdowns and 1,069 yards on 78 catches for Seattle. It was one of the most productive seasons ever by a Seahawks receiver. The 14 touchdowns are a team record. He’s just the third receiver in franchise history to have at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in a season, joining Steve Largent and Joey Galloway - who each accomplished the feat twice. He amassed 484 yards and 11 touchdowns in a five-game stretch late in the season.
Head coach Pete Carroll said earlier this offseason that the immediate focus would be on free agency and the draft for Seattle before talk of extensions began for players such as Baldwin and Michael Bennett (and maybe not Kam Chancellor). So while Baldwin has yet to hear from the Seahawks about his contract, he can probably expect those conversations to start sooner than later.
Baldwin is currently set to earn just $4 million in 2016.