The Seattle Seahawks stated their intention to enter a transitional period this season when the team acquired quarterback Tarvaris Jackson from the Minnesota Vikings and named him the starting quarterback. Through four games, Jackson is still figuring out how to play and lead the team. Meanwhile, his top wide receiver Doug Baldwin has been a pleasant surprise for both Jackson and the Seahawks organization.
Baldwin is a rookie out of Stanford who went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Expectations surely were not that high when the Seahawks signed him this offseason, but the rookie has proven that he can contribute on an NFL team. Through four games, Baldwin leads the team's receivers with 194 receiving yards and one touchdown. He has recorded more receptions than any other Seahawks receiver (12) and he holds the team's longest completion pass this season (55 yards).
Receiver Sidney Rice will likely overtake Baldwin soon in the stats department, given that Rice is already close to Baldwin (188 receiving yards on 11 receptions) with two less games played, but Baldwin could fit into a solid No. 2 slot in Seattle's offense. Given Seattle's rough start and tough luck through the season's first few weeks, Baldwin is a bright spot that should only continue to get brighter as the season progresses.