Baldwin always has relied on his mind more than his pure athletic talent. He is a quick receiver and shifty, but where he excels — where he has to excel — is with his understanding of the game and the players covering him.
Five years ago, after he didn’t hear his name called during the NFL draft, Doug Baldwin’s phone rang. It was his old friend and college teammate, Richard Sherman, telling Baldwin to sign with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.
“They’re going to call you,” Sherman told Baldwin. “I want you to be here.