Burleson signs his contract

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Seattle native Nate Burleson Tuesday signed his $49 million, seven-year contract with the Seahawks, the only team the receiver tried out before the 2003 draft.

The deal includes $5.25 million guaranteed. It also cost Seattle a third-round draft pick, the price of signing the restricted free agent.

Burleson has 127 receptions over 44 games since Minnesota drafted him in the third round out of Seattle’s O’Dea High and the University of Nevada. That’s not exactly the resume for an average salary of $7 million. But Burleson gets only a $1.25 million base salary for 2006. Subsequent, non-guaranteed years can be re-negotiated if need be.