Seahawks receiver Baldwin plans to build on rookie year

RENTON, Wash. – At this time a year ago, Doug Baldwin was an undrafted, unsigned rookie waiting for the NFL lockout to end and with no clue what his football future might hold.

Now, coming off a rookie season where Baldwin was the Seattle Seahawks’ leading receiver, he’s already being told how his second season is about avoiding the “sophomore slump.”

Undrafted out of Stanford, Baldwin ended up with 51 receptions for 788 yards and four touchdowns.

It was a surprising and rapid rise for Baldwin, who became the first undrafted rookie to lead his team in receiving since the AFL-NFL merger.

One of Baldwin’s goals during offseason workouts is building a relationship with whomever ends up being the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson is the incumbent, and he will be challenged by rookie Russell Wilson and free-agent signee and former Packers backup Matt Flynn.

Baldwin said he’ll have to fight for his spot on a team where competition reigns supreme.

“I have the same mindset, the same mentality,” Baldwin said. “I’m still a rookie because they brought undrafted guys in that are competing for a job to take my spot … so you’ve got to have that same mentality and that same hunger to go out there and win your spot every day.”