Doug Baldwin Leaves As A Seahawks Great — And With An Unusual Career

by Chase Stuart on May 10, 2019

A sight Seahawks fans loved to see.

Doug Baldwin was released by the Seahawks yesterday due to multiple injuries that leaves his career in doubt. It is not expected that he will ever play in the NFL again, and if this truly is the end, it was a special run for a unique player.

Baldwin will be remembered as a Seahawks great, one of the engines of the best era in Seattle’s history. He was an undrafted free agent out of Stanford, and while he wasn’t quite Rod Smith, Wes Welker, or Drew Pearson, he can make a reasonable case as being one of the top 10 or so wide receivers to get overlooked in the draft.

But when we look back on his career, his statistics won’t tell much of a story. With just 6,563 career receiving yards, he will get lost with the many of talented wide receivers in pro football history. Even in the postseason, Baldwin’s 734 yards and 6 touchdowns in 13 games won’t quite stand out.

He was not a Hall of Fame caliber receiver, and he’s probably short of the Hall of Very Good, too. But it’s worth noting that while he did get to spend most of his career with a great quarterback, he also was on a run-first team for all of his career. Baldwin’s Seahawks passed just 88% as often as the rest of the league over the course of his career. Among the top 200 players in receiving yards in league history, he played on the 4th-most run-heavy teams.

I looked at each of the top 200 leaders in receiving yards in pro football history. For each player, I noted how often his team passed in each season of his career relative to league average (so if your team passed 450 times when league average was 500 times, you get a pass ratio of 90%). Then, I calculated career grades for each receiver, weighted by his number of receiving yards in each year (so his best seasons get higher weights).

By this methodology, Balwin’s teams had a pass ratio of just 87.9%. The full list below.

PR% Rk	Player	Rec Yards	Yds Rk	First Yr	Last Yr	Pass Ratio
200	Boyd Dowler	7270	125	1959	1971	83.8%
199	Willie Gault	6635	159	1983	1993	85%
198	Carroll Dale	8277	86	1960	1973	87%
197	Doug Baldwin	6563	165	2011	2018	87.9%
196	Paul Warfield	8565	79	1964	1977	88%
195	Lee Evans	6008	194	2004	2011	88.2%
194	Dante Lavelli	6488	167	1946	1956	88.6%
193	Otis Taylor	7306	124	1965	1974	89.9%
192	Louis Lipps	6019	192	1984	1992	91.1%
191	Max McGee	6346	176	1954	1967	91.1%
190	Vernon Davis	7439	117	2006	2018	91.3%
189	Hines Ward	12083	25	1998	2011	92%
188	Eric Martin	8161	90	1985	1994	93.2%
187	Michael Crabtree	7477	115	2009	2018	93.3%
186	Stanley Morgan	10716	40	1977	1990	93.3%
185	Steve Smith	14731	8	2001	2016	93.6%
184	Eddie Brown	6134	185	1985	1991	93.7%
183	Nat Moore	7546	112	1974	1986	94.3%
182	John Stallworth	8723	74	1974	1987	94.3%
181	Jerricho Cotchery	6623	160	2004	2015	94.3%
180	Sean Dawkins	6291	180	1993	2001	94.5%
179	Greg Olsen	7847	106	2007	2018	94.5%
178	Dwayne Bowe	7208	129	2007	2015	95.1%
177	Santonio Holmes	6030	191	2006	2014	95.7%
176	Michael Irvin	11904	27	1988	1999	95.8%
175	A.J. Green	8907	67	2011	2018	96%
174	Brett Perriman	6589	162	1988	1997	96.1%
173	Joey Galloway	10950	36	1995	2010	96.3%
172	Herman Moore	9174	57	1991	2001	96.5%
171	Vincent Jackson	9080	60	2005	2016	96.5%
170	Laveranues Coles	8609	77	2000	2009	96.5%
169	Brian Blades	7620	111	1988	1998	96.7%
168	Nate Washington	6954	144	2006	2015	96.8%
167	Frank Lewis	6724	154	1971	1983	96.9%
166	Henry Ellard	13777	15	1983	1998	96.9%
165	Andre Reed	13198	17	1985	2000	97.1%
164	Santana Moss	10283	43	2001	2014	97.1%
163	Bob Hayes	7414	121	1965	1975	97.2%
162	Muhsin Muhammad	11438	31	1996	2009	97.3%
161	Harold Jackson	10372	42	1969	1983	97.4%
160	Plaxico Burress	8499	80	2000	2012	97.6%
159	Jimmy Smith	12287	23	1995	2005	97.6%
158	Tim Brown	14934	7	1988	2004	97.8%
157	Eric Moulds	9995	49	1996	2007	97.8%
156	Heath Miller	6569	164	2005	2015	97.9%
155	Cliff Branch	8685	76	1972	1984	98%
154	Antonio Gates	11841	28	2003	2018	98%
153	Quinn Early	6448	171	1988	1999	98.2%
152	Derrick Mason	12061	26	1997	2011	98.2%
151	Chris Chambers	7648	110	2001	2010	98.3%
150	J.T. Smith	6974	142	1979	1990	98.3%
149	Golden Tate	7214	128	2010	2018	98.3%
148	Bill Brooks	8001	97	1986	1996	98.4%
147	DeAndre Hopkins	7437	118	2013	2018	98.6%
146	Eddie Kennison	8345	83	1996	2007	98.6%
145	Todd Christensen	5872	200	1981	1988	98.6%
144	Ronnie Harmon	6076	188	1986	1997	98.7%
143	Cris Collinsworth	6698	156	1981	1988	98.9%
142	Rod Smith	11389	32	1995	2006	98.9%
141	Lance Alworth	10266	44	1962	1972	99%
140	Dez Bryant	7459	116	2010	2017	99.3%
139	Wesley Walker	8306	84	1977	1989	99.3%
138	Ed McCaffrey	7422	120	1991	2003	99.5%
137	James Lofton	14004	12	1978	1993	99.5%
136	Darrell Jackson	7132	131	2000	2008	99.6%
135	Ken Burrough	7102	133	1970	1981	99.8%
134	Andre Johnson	14185	11	2003	2016	99.8%
133	Billy Wilson	5902	197.5	1951	1960	99.9%
132	Mark Carrier	8763	72	1987	1998	100.1%
131	Stephone Paige	6341	177	1983	1991	100.2%
130	Terance Mathis	8809	71	1990	2002	100.2%
129	Alfred Jenkins	6267	181	1975	1983	100.2%
128	Brandon Lloyd	5989	196	2003	2014	100.2%
127	Brandon Marshall	12351	22	2006	2018	100.3%
126	Henry Marshall	6545	166	1976	1987	100.3%
125	Anthony Carter	7733	109	1985	1994	100.3%
124	Jason Witten	12448	21	2003	2017	100.7%
123	Keenan McCardell	11373	33	1992	2007	100.7%
122	Carl Pickens	7129	132	1992	2000	101%
121	Haven Moses	8091	94	1968	1981	101.2%
120	Tony Martin	9065	61	1990	2001	101.3%
119	Mike Wallace	8072	95	2009	2017	101.3%
118	Roy Green	8965	66	1979	1992	101.3%
117	Jordy Nelson	8587	78	2008	2018	101.4%
116	Alshon Jeffery	6181	183	2012	2018	101.5%
115	Art Monk	12721	20	1980	1995	101.6%
114	Steve Jordan	6307	179	1982	1994	101.8%
113	Red Phillips	6044	189	1958	1967	101.8%
112	Drew Pearson	7822	107	1973	1983	101.8%
111	Shawn Jefferson	7023	139	1991	2003	101.9%
110	Jeremy Maclin	6835	147	2009	2017	101.9%
109	Curtis Conway	8230	87	1993	2004	102%
108	Shannon Sharpe	10060	48	1990	2003	102%
107	Pat Tilley	7005	140	1976	1986	102.2%
106	Terrell Owens	15934	3	1996	2010	102.4%
105	Jimmy Orr	7914	103	1958	1970	102.4%
104	Ricky Proehl	8878	68	1990	2006	102.4%
103	Steve Watson	6112	186	1979	1987	102.4%
102	Isaac Curtis	7101	134	1973	1984	102.5%
101	Johnnie Morton	8719	75	1994	2005	102.5%
100	Wayne Chrebet	7365	123	1995	2005	102.5%
99	Jeff Graham	8172	89	1991	2001	102.8%
98	Marshall Faulk	6875	145	1994	2005	102.8%
97	Joe Horn	8744	73	1996	2007	102.9%
96	Randy Moss	15292	4	1998	2012	102.9%
95	Keyshawn Johnson	10571	41	1996	2006	103%
94	Darnay Scott	6193	182	1994	2002	103%
93	Fred Biletnikoff	8974	63.5	1965	1978	103.1%
92	Mike Evans	6103	187	2014	2018	103.2%
91	Al Toon	6605	161	1985	1992	103.2%
90	Steve Largent	13089	18	1976	1989	103.2%
89	Greg Jennings	8291	85	2006	2015	103.2%
88	Anquan Boldin	13779	14	2003	2016	103.3%
87	Ike Hilliard	6397	173	1997	2008	103.6%
86	Roddy White	10863	37	2005	2015	103.7%
85	Emmanuel Sanders	7024	138	2010	2018	103.7%
84	Gary Clark	10856	38	1985	1995	103.8%
83	Tony Gonzalez	15127	6	1997	2013	103.8%
82	Terry Glenn	8823	70	1996	2006	103.8%
81	DeSean Jackson	10261	45	2008	2018	103.9%
80	Chad Johnson	11059	35	2001	2011	104%
79	Tony Hill	7988	99	1977	1986	104%
78	Jack Snow	6012	193	1965	1975	104.1%
77	Troy Brown	6366	175	1993	2006	104.1%
76	Roy Jefferson	7539	113	1965	1976	104.2%
75	Irving Fryar	12785	19	1984	2000	104.2%
74	Pierre Garcon	7854	105	2008	2018	104.2%
73	Derrick Alexander	6971	143	1994	2002	104.3%
72	Bobby Engram	7751	108	1996	2009	104.3%
71	Art Powell	8046	96	1960	1968	104.4%
70	Anthony Miller	9148	58	1988	1997	104.4%
69	Amani Toomer	9497	53	1996	2008	104.5%
68	Rob Moore	9368	54	1990	1999	104.6%
67	Andre Rison	10205	46	1989	2000	104.7%
66	Ben Watson	5885	199	2004	2018	104.8%
65	Mel Gray	6644	157.5	1971	1982	105%
64	Deion Branch	6644	157.5	2002	2012	105%
63	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	7237	127	2001	2011	105.1%
62	Cris Carter	13899	13	1987	2002	105.1%
61	Drew Hill	9831	51	1979	1993	105.4%
60	Demaryius Thomas	9330	55	2010	2018	105.5%
59	Michael Haynes	6588	163	1988	1997	105.5%
58	Don Maynard	11834	29	1958	1973	105.6%
57	Larry Centers	6797	150	1991	2003	105.8%
56	Jerry Rice	22895	1	1985	2004	105.8%
55	Antonio Freeman	7251	126	1995	2003	105.9%
54	Carlos Carson	6372	174	1980	1989	105.9%
53	Marty Booker	6703	155	1999	2009	105.9%
52	Jeremy Shockey	6143	184	2002	2011	106%
51	Marvin Harrison	14580	9	1996	2008	106%
50	John Gilliam	7056	136	1967	1977	106%
49	Frank Sanders	6749	152	1995	2003	106%
48	Harold Carmichael	8985	62	1971	1984	106.1%
47	Jackie Smith	7918	102	1963	1977	106.3%
46	Mike Quick	6464	170	1982	1990	106.5%
45	Sonny Randle	5996	195	1959	1968	106.6%
44	Antonio Brown	11207	34	2010	2018	106.8%
43	Julio Jones	10731	39	2011	2018	107%
42	Gene Washington	6856	146	1969	1979	107%
41	Pete Retzlaff	7412	122	1956	1966	107%
40	Gary Garrison	7538	114	1966	1977	107.3%
39	Bobby Joe Conrad	5902	197.5	1959	1969	107.4%
38	Bobby Mitchell	7954	101	1958	1968	107.4%
37	T.Y. Hilton	8097	93	2012	2018	107.6%
36	Webster Slaughter	8111	92	1986	1998	107.7%
35	Isaac Bruce	15208	5	1994	2009	107.7%
34	Rob Gronkowski	7861	104	2010	2018	107.9%
33	Ricky Sanders	6477	168	1986	1995	108%
32	Ozzie Newsome	7980	100	1978	1990	108%
31	Jake Reed	6999	141	1992	2002	108.4%
30	Charley Taylor	9110	59	1964	1977	108.6%
29	Del Shofner	6470	169	1958	1967	108.6%
28	Tommy McDonald	8410	82	1957	1968	108.6%
27	Larry Fitzgerald	16279	2	2004	2018	108.7%
26	Billy Howton	8459	81	1952	1963	108.9%
25	Elroy Hirsch	7029	137	1946	1957	109%
24	Lionel Taylor	7195	130	1960	1968	109.2%
23	Reggie Wayne	14345	10	2001	2014	109.5%
22	Wes Welker	9924	50	2005	2015	109.8%
21	Raymond Berry	9275	56	1955	1967	109.8%
20	Donald Driver	10137	47	1999	2012	110.1%
19	Reggie Rucker	7065	135	1970	1981	110.2%
18	Dwight Clark	6750	151	1979	1987	110.3%
17	Ernest Givins	8215	88	1986	1995	110.5%
16	Sterling Sharpe	8134	91	1988	1994	110.5%
15	Torry Holt	13382	16	1999	2009	110.6%
14	Lenny Moore	6039	190	1956	1967	111.8%
13	Jimmy Graham	7436	119	2010	2018	112.4%
12	Mark Duper	8869	69	1983	1992	113.6%
11	Charley Hennigan	6823	149	1960	1966	113.8%
10	Calvin Johnson	11619	30	2007	2015	115.2%
9	Wes Chandler	8966	65	1978	1988	115.6%
8	Mark Clayton	8974	63.5	1983	1993	116.2%
7	Haywood Jeffires	6334	178	1987	1996	116.2%
6	Charlie Joiner	12146	24	1969	1986	117.2%
5	Marques Colston	9759	52	2006	2015	117.5%
4	Ahmad Rashad	6831	148	1972	1982	119.2%
3	Kellen Winslow	6741	153	1979	1987	121.6%
2	Sammy White	6400	172	1976	1985	122.5%
1	Don Hutson	7991	98	1935	1945	125.5%

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