Of the players who were eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, all have signed their tenders, reached multiyear agreements with their current clubs, or hit the unrestricted free agent market — all but one. Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin has yet to sign his second-round tender worth $2.187MM, but said today on KJR-AM in Seattle that he’s not too worried about his contract situation. According to Baldwin (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times), the Seahawks made a multiyear offer, which he countered with a proposal of his own.
“It’s going to take some time,” Baldwin said. “It’s just the process of going through the negotiations, that’s just what it is. … It’s still very early in the stages of the conversation and I don’t know how long it’s going to take. But hopefully we can get something done soon. … If we are unable to reach an agreement I will sign the tender, play that out, and then be an unrestricted free agent (in 2015).”
The Seahawks have brought back a number of their own key free agents this season, including defensive end Michael Bennett, and Baldwin will fall into that same category one way or the other. He doesn’t plan to sit out the season, so whether he plays in 2014 on a one-year tender or in the first year of a longer-term deal, the 25-year-old will take the field for the defending champions.
If Baldwin were to sign a multiyear contract, it’ll be interesting to see exactly what it might be worth. Baldwin’s numbers, including 50 receptions for 778 yards in ’13, are modest, but he’s still young and could be in line for a bigger role now that Golden Tate is no longer in the picture. Tate received more than $6MM annually to sign with the Lions this offseason, and while Baldwin may not match that figure, his per-year salary on a long-term extension would presumably exceed his $2.187MM RFA tender.