Doug Baldwin Bids Farewell To The NFL
Late Sunday night, longtime Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin bid farewell to football with a string of heartfelt tweets. He did not use the word “retirement” at any point, but it’s clear that Baldwin is walking away from the game. 
“The end of one journey sees the beginning of another, ” Baldwin wrote towards the end of a letter to his younger self (link). “And, guess what.. it will be one hell of a journey. You will feel emotional and physical pain you never knew existed. You will fail over and over again. But don’t worry, all of it will be the reason why you succeed.”
The Seahawks signed Baldwin as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford in 2011 and he led the Tarvaris Jackson-quarterbacked team in receiving as a rookie before becoming Wilson’s most trusted target. Baldwin was a key member of both Seattle Super Bowl teams this decade, catching touchdown passes in both the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII win and crushing loss a year later. However, his momentum stalled last season.
Knee, groin and shoulder injuries — which each required surgery — ended Baldwin’s career. But, when Baldwin was healthy, he was a crucial part of the Seahawks’ offense. Wilson‘s ascent into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks involved lots of help from Baldwin, and there’s no telling where the Seahawks would have been without him. He didn’t end on a statistical high note, but he proved his toughness yet again by suiting up for 13 games last year, despite all of the maladies.
Baldwin, who was released by Seattle last last week, leaves with the second-most touchdown receptions and third-most catches and receiving yards in franchise history, behind only Steve Largent and Brian Blades.
Contract Details: Howard, Ansah, Calhoun
A look at the details on recent deals from around the NFL:
- Xavien Howard, CB (Dolphins): Reported as five years, $76.5MM. Actually a six-year, $76.53MM deal. Base salaries: $1.28MM (2019), $11.9MM (2020), $12.075MM (2021), $12.375MM (2022), $11.4MM (2023), $11.65MM (2024). $7MM signing bonus, $7MM 2019 roster bonus, up to $350K in workout bonuses, up to $500K annual per-game roster bonuses. Contract details via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
- Ziggy Ansah, DE (Seahawks): One-year deal (original story). $9MM base value. Could increase to almost $13MM with incentives. Contract details via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
- Shilique Calhoun, DL (Patriots): One-year deal (original story). $720K salary/cap number, $448K injury split (no guarantee). Contract details via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).
Seahawks Sign Al Woods
The Seahawks are making a late free agency move. The team has signed defensive tackle Al Woods, his representatives announced in a tweet.
Tom Pelissero followed up with a tweet, reporting that it’s a one-year, $2.25MM pact. It’s a solid chunk of change for Woods to land this late in the process. Woods met with the Seahawks last month, but it took a while for things to materialize. In all likelihood, the Seahawks were waiting for the deadline for signings to count toward the compensatory pick formula to pass.
He also met with the Lions back in March. Woods originally entered the league as a fourth round pick of the Saints back in 2010, and has bounced around the league ever since. The journeyman has been a member of six different teams, and finally settled in Indianapolis on a two-year, $4MM deal he signed in March of 2017. He played around 36% of the defensive snaps for the Colts last year, and started eight games. A run-stuffer primarily, he finished with 24 tackles and one pass defended.
Woods had a brief stint in Seattle back in 2011, so there’s some familiarity here. He’s also been with the Steelers, Buccaneers, and Titans during his time in the league. He turned 32 in March, and the Seahawks will likely use him in a situational role on running downs. He ended last year on injured reserve with a foot injury, but there’s no indication that it’s still bothering him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/19
We’ve got a whole bunch of minor transactions from today as we head into the weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Wes Hills, CB Nate Brooks
- Released: WR Bryant Mitchell, CB Jonathan Moxey, RB Brandon Wilds
Houston Texans
- Waived: S Mike Tyson
- Placed on IR: OLB Duke Ejiofor
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: RB Martez Carter, LB Chase Hansen, TE Jake Powell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Jay Liggins
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: DE Nate Orchard
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Brian Burt
Orchard, the former second round pick of the Browns, is probably the biggest name on this list. He was cut to make room for Ziggy Ansah, who the Seahawks officially announced today. Orchard had signed a one-year pact last month that didn’t contain any guaranteed money. It’s a pretty bad sign for his NFL future that he was apparently at the very bottom of the 90-man roster in Seattle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: T Justin Evans, G Zack Golditch, G Will House, DT Pasoni Tasini, WR Jalen Tolliver, T Brant Weiss
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: LB Blair Brown, G Parker Ehinger, FB Dimitri Flowers, LB Donald Payne, RB David Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: TE Austin Roberts
New York Giants
- Signed: K Joey Slye
- Waived: LB Ukeme Eligwe, DE Myles Humphrey, DB Michael Hunter, RB Robert Martin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Jack Tocho, K Matt McCrane
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Nick Bellore, OL Marcus Martin
Seahawks Release Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor
Doug Baldwin is no longer a Seahawk. Two weeks after a report surfaced indicating injuries will likely force the veteran slot receiver to retire, the Seahawks released Russell Wilson‘s top target with a failed-physical designation, the team announced.
The Seahawks also cut Kam Chancellor with this designation. Chancellor announced intentions to retire before last season but did not officially retire in order to collect guaranteed money.
“The Seahawks have made the difficult decision to terminate/failed-physical Doug Baldwin and Kam Chancellor,” GM John Schneider said. “These are two of the most iconic players in franchise history and both were instrumental in establishing our championship culture, great examples of competitiveness and leadership on the field and in the community. These legendary players will always be a part of our Seahawks family.”
Knee, groin and shoulder injuries — which each required surgery — look set to end Baldwin’s career. The 30-year-old wideout led the Seahawks in receiving five times and, with 6,563 yards, is the franchise’s No. 3 all-time receiver — behind only Steve Largent and Brian Blades. Baldwin’s 49 touchdown receptions trail only Largent in Seahawks history. Baldwin booked two Pro Bowl berths and tied for the league lead with 14 touchdown receptions in 2015.
The Seahawks signed Baldwin as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford in 2011; he led the Tarvaris Jackson-quarterbacked team in receiving as a rookie before becoming Wilson’s most trusted target. Baldwin was a key member of both Seattle Super Bowl teams this decade, catching touchdown passes in both the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII win and crushing loss a year later. However, his momentum stalled last season.
A knee injury hampered him during training camp and likely throughout the 2018 campaign, one that ended with Tyler Lockett as Seattle’s leading receiver and Baldwin posting 618 yards — the second-lowest total of his career. While Baldwin came alive late to help the Seahawks back to the playoffs, scoring four of his five touchdowns in December, he clearly was playing hurt. This offseason, he underwent multiple corrective procedures.
Seattle traded up to select D.K. Metcalf in the second round, also adding Wake Forest’s Gary Jennings in Round 4 and Hawaii’s John Ursua in Round 7. The team did not make any notable veteran additions at the position, which will place plenty on Lockett’s shoulders this season.
Baldwin’s second Seahawks extension, signed in 2016, came with $24.25MM in total guarantees. Thursday’s transaction will allow him to collect the remainder of that sum. The Seahawks will save $6.9MM this year by releasing Baldwin. In total, cutting both cornerstone players will give the team around $20MM in cap space next year, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets.
Chancellor received a $5.2MM payment earlier this year. The Seahawks will be tagged with $10.2MM in dead money in 2019 because of this move. The 31-year-old safety’s release serves as a mere formality, with the neck injury he sustained during the 2017 season ending his career. These cuts leave Wilson, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright as the only starters left from Seattle’s Super Bowl rosters.
Seahawks’ Ziggy Ansah To Miss Games?
New Seahawks’ defensive end Ezekiel Ansah still is recovering from shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out of training camp or longer, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Furthermore, some league sources believe Ansah could miss the first month of this season, if not more. 
The Seahawks inked Ansah to a deal late Wednesday night, allowing them to skirt any possible compensatory pick formula ramifications. On the surface, it was a brilliant way to bolster an edge rush that can use a lift following the Frank Clark trade. However, the Ansah signing won’t do them a whole lot of good if he’s not on the field.
Health, of course, has been an issue for the former Lions standout. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has 48 career sacks to his credit, including 14.5 from his Pro Bowl campaign in 2015. He also notched 12 sacks in 2017, but the years sandwiched in between have been filled with injuries and disappointment. Last year, Ansah registered just four sacks in seven games after the Lions hit him with the pricey franchise tag.
The Bills were also in the mix for Ansah, but the Seahawks won out. With Seattle, Ansah will join first-round pick L.J. Collier in a new-look edge unit.
Seahawks To Sign CB Jamar Taylor
Veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor is set to sign with the Seahawks, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known, but the two sides may hammer out terms on Thursday as Taylor meets with coaches and tours the facility. 
[RELATED: Seahawks To Sign Ziggy Ansah]
Taylor should figure into the Seahawks’ slot corner competition where he would potentially replace the departed Justin Coleman. The 2013 second-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Dolphins before being dealt to the Browns. He was productive during his two seasons with Cleveland, including a 2016 campaign where he had three interceptions and 13 passes defended. In 2017, he appeared in a career-high 16 games and finished with a career-high 62 tackles.
Taylor, who will turn 29 in September, will battle with Akeem King, Kalan Reed, Jeremy Boykins, and rookie Ugo Amadi for the primary slot role. Earlier this offseason, coach Pete Carroll indicated that the nickel spot would be wide open in camp.
Seahawks To Sign Ziggy Ansah
The Seahawks won out for Ziggy Ansah. The former Lions defensive end will head west on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Ansah will sign his deal on Thursday, Rapoport tweets. This will take a key free agent off the board, a day after UFA signings became disconnected from 2020 compensatory picks.
It appeared the Seahawks and Bills were vying for Ansah, with Brandon Beane remarking hours ago his team was still negotiating with the former Pro Bowl pass rusher. But the Seahawks, who had a much bigger immediate need at defensive end, will make the addition. Ansah will join first-round pick L.J. Collier in a new-look Seattle edge corps.
The Seahawks’ Frank Clark trade left them vulnerable on the edge. They used the No. 29 overall pick on Collier, who maxed out at six sacks in his best TCU season, but now have a former top-five pick in the fold. Ansah has struggled with injuries, his most recent shoulder malady set to keep him out until perhaps midway through training camp, but has been productive when healthy. The soon-to-be 30-year-old edge presence has 48 career sacks, his 14.5 in 2015 sending him to the Pro Bowl and the 12 in 2017 inducing the Lions to place their franchise tag on him last year.
Free agent edges Nick Perry and Shane Ray also visited Seattle, but the team will go with Ansah. Perry and Ray join several starter- or sub-package-level pass rushers still available. Derrick Morgan, Michael Johnson, Andre Branch, Pernell McPhee, Dion Jordan and others remain on the market.
Seahawks Ahead In Ziggy Ansah Pursuit
Ziggy Ansah has made several visits this offseason. The team that secured the most recent visit appears to be the leader to land him.
The Seahawks have emerged as the frontrunners to sign the former Lions sack artist, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Although, the Bills — who also hosted Ansah this offseason — remain interested, with no deal being finalized between the former top-five pick and the Seahawks.
Just shy of his 30th birthday, Ansah met with the Seahawks in late April. The team has an obvious need at defensive end, having traded Frank Clark to the Chiefs. While Seattle selected L.J. Collier with the pick acquired from the Chiefs, the team almost certainly needs veteran help here.
Ansah has also visited the Bills, Ravens and Saints. Buffalo is a bit deeper on the edge than Seattle, but with Shaq Lawson a perpetual trade candidate, the AFC Ansah suitor may possess a slightly bigger need than it would appear. Jerry Hughes is also entering a contract year and his age-31 season. Though, Trent Murphy profiles as a superior option to any of the Seahawks’ veterans at this point. Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard joined the Seahawks this offseason but profile more as potential depth pieces than starters.
The shoulder injury that dogged Ansah last season required offseason surgery and resulted in this lengthy free agency stay. Ansah’s plan was to wait until at least mid-April to sign. Now that the deadline for UFAs to count against the 2020 compensatory formula has elapsed, it’s understandable Ansah’s market has accelerated. While Ansah may not be cleared until midway through his next team’s training camp, it appears he will decide on a destination soon.