Seahawks camp countdown – Does Doug Baldwin face more pressure in 2016?
By Dan Viens
Doug Baldwin is now being paid as one of the elite WR’s in the NFL. Is there more pressure on him to put up huge numbers now?
It’s inevitable. No matter how under-the-radar a player may be, once he reaches star status in the NFL and is paid accordingly, fans and media alike raise their expectations.
Doug Baldwin made the NFL as an undrafted free agent, worked his way into being a starter, and then became a star, by being a grinder; doing the dirty work, working underneath and making the tough catches……and by being a locker room leader.
But after blowing up with a massive statistical outburst last season, Baldwin is now one of the top 10 highest paid WR’s in the league. His 78 catches and 1069 catches were career highs, and his 14 TD catches led the league.
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So now what?
At $11.5 million a year, is Baldwin now under more pressure to put up similar numbers to 2016?
The Seahawks don’t feel that way, and neither should we.
We’ve all heard it before; the Seahawks are a run first offense. While that may not be as true as it was when Marshawn Lynch was in the backfield, Pete Carroll still wants a balanced attack. But with quarterback Russell Wilson ascending to the level of NFL elite, the team went out and loaded up on diverse offensive weapons in the last two offseasons. Baldwin now has the explosive Tyler Lockett to help attract the attention of opposing DB’s, as well as a new stable of young, dynamic running backs and the expected return to health of TE Jimmy Graham. There simply aren’t many other teams in the league who have as deep and intriguing a cast of offensive characters around their quarterback.
Baldwin wasn’t paid to produce more, he was rewarded for being everything the Seahawks espouse as they build their program; that anyone can make the team and become a star no matter your previous reputation or draft status.
Next: Training camp battle - the RB's
Don’t be surprised if Baldwin fails to match last year’s numbers, but don’t be mad either.
The Seahawks certainly won’t be, as long as the team wins.