Seahawks’ Baldwin gets 4-year extension: $46M

He’s Angry Doug no more.

WR Doug Baldwin, long a believer in using perceived disrespect as a weapon, was respected so much by the Seahawks that they gave him a four-year, $46 million extension that will secure him through 2020, according to an NFL.com report Tuesday.

The story said $24.5 million is guaranteed — not bad for an undrafted free agent. Baldwin was heading into the final year of a three-year deal worth $13 million.

Both sides expressed optimism throughout that an extension would be reached before training camp. The value of the deal was a bit surprising, however. But the contracts this off-season given to Keenan Allen ($45 million) by San Diego and Allen Hurns ($40 million) by Jacksonville jacked up the wide receiver market.

According to overthecap.com, Baldwin’s deal puts him seventh among wide receivers in total value.

Baldwin had a sensational second half in the past season that was obviously well-timed. He had NFL’s top passer rating when targeted (139.9). Of his NFL-high 14 receptions for TDs, 11 came in the final six regular-season games — equaling the number he had in his previous 43 contests as a Seahawk.

Nearly as much as his growth as a player, Baldwin grew up as a team leader. He began to check his petulance at the door.

“Before I became a leader, I thought success was all about building myself up,” he told reporters June 9 after practice. “Once I became a leader, I realized that success is about building others up. That’s where I’m at right now. I’m focused on helping the other guys as much as I can, giving them the tools they need to be successful, just like Sidney Rice did for me when I first came in.

“That’s the mentality we have as veterans now . . . there’s a lot of new guys, so we want to be able to pass on that experience and wisdom we have growing up in this program.”

The retirement of RB Marshawn Lynch and the continued growth of QB Russell Wilson means more emphasis will be put on the passing game. In addition to becoming a primary weapon, Baldwin was also recognized by his peers in the NFL Network’s annual top 100 players poll, finishing 72nd in the voting. And he also became engaged.

“A lot of changes, so I don’t even know how to quantify it,” he said. “I would just say it’s just the process a young man goes through. I’m growing up. I’m 27 years old now, about to be 28.

“A lot of great things happened in the past. But I’m looking forward to a lot of great things in the future.”

The one-time “pedestrian” receiver has gone elite.