Seattle Seahawks sign Doug Baldwin to 4-year extension

Five years after he signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford, wide receiver Doug Baldwin is a mainstay for a Seattle team that is an annual title contender.

The Seahawks rewarded him Tuesday, signing Baldwin to a four-year contract extension that runs through 2020.

According to multiple media reports, the deal is worth $46 million, with $24.25 million guaranteed.

The extension makes Baldwin the NFL's seventh-highest paid receiver in average annual salary ($11.5 million), per overthecap.com.

The only Seahawks with higher average annual salaries, the Seattle Times reported, are quarterback Russell Wilson ($21.9 million) and cornerback Richard Sherman ($14 million). Wilson ($61.5 million), Sherman ($40 million) and safety Earl Thomas ($25.7 million) are the lone Seattle players whose contracts contain more guaranteed money than Baldwin will receive.

Seahawks owner Paul Allen tweeted, "@Seahawks: Signed tough and sure-handed @DougBaldwinJrto a new 4-year extension."

@Seahawks: Signed tough and sure-handed @DougBaldwinJr to a new 4-year extension. pic.twitter.com/WPuOBVZZL1
— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) June 29, 2016

Baldwin, 27, is coming off a career season. He started all 16 games last year for the second season in a row, and finished with 78 catches for 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns. All of the stats were career highs, and the touchdown total matched the league high.

After the new contract was finalized, Baldwin posted on his Facebook account, "It was 2011. I was sitting by myself at a small Mexican restaurant across the street from the Stanford campus. The draft had just ended and my name wasn't called. I sat in my chair unable to move as if my heart had just been ripped out of my chest. I've been playing football since I was 7 years old and, in that moment, it seemed like it was all coming to an end.

"I humbled myself and waited out the lockout for one last shot at my dream. Then... Seattle called and they wanted me. That was almost 5 years ago. This is now. I'm thankful and blessed to formally announce my 4 year extension with the Seattle Seahawks."

He then thanked the team's staff and fans.