The Seahawks released Doug Baldwin yesterday, an anticipated move based on draft weekend reports that Baldwin would likely be retiring. It will no doubt cause some excitement about rookie wideouts DK Metcalf and just maybe Gary Jennings, but don't forget the holdovers, either.
Tyler Lockett, for one, should be a little better as the clear No. 1 in the offense. And then David Moore had a nice little midseason run last year, after the team moved on from Brandon Marshall.
First two tables show Lockett's numbers in games with Baldwin sidelined, and then with Baldwin in the lineup. Pretty good either way, but a little better in catches and touchdowns with no Baldwin.
| LOCKETT WITHOUT BALDWIN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | No | Yds | TD |
| @ DEN | 3 | 59 | 1 |
| @ CHI | 5 | 60 | 1 |
| DAL | 4 | 77 | 1 |
| MIN | 5 | 42 | 0 |
| Tot | 17 | 238 | 3 |
| Avg | 4.3 | 60 | 0.8 |
| LOCKETT WITH BALDWIN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | No | Yds | TD |
| @ ARI | 5 | 53 | 0 |
| LA | 3 | 98 | 1 |
| @ OAK | 3 | 13 | 1 |
| @ DET | 2 | 34 | 1 |
| LAC | 3 | 22 | 0 |
| @ LA | 5 | 67 | 1 |
| GB | 5 | 71 | 0 |
| @ CAR | 5 | 107 | 1 |
| SF | 1 | 52 | 1 |
| @ SF | 2 | 45 | 0 |
| KC | 4 | 99 | 0 |
| ARI | 2 | 66 | 1 |
| Tot | 40 | 727 | 7 |
| Avg | 3.3 | 61 | 0.6 |
Below are Moore's numbers after he emerged post-Marshall. Moore cooled off down the stretch, playing half the snaps but not catching a pass in a pair of late games (San Francisco and Kansas City). Baldwin was healthy then, and he put up big numbers in both of those contests.
| MOORE MID-SEASON | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | No | Yds | TD |
| @ ARI | 2 | 39 | 0 |
| LA | 3 | 38 | 2 |
| @ OAK | 2 | 47 | 1 |
| @ DET | 4 | 97 | 1 |
| LAC | 2 | 16 | 0 |
| @ LA | 1 | 16 | 0 |
| GB | 4 | 57 | 0 |
| @ CAR | 4 | 103 | 1 |
| Tot | 22 | 413 | 5 |
| Avg | 3 | 52 | 0.6 |
There will be some interest in Metcalf in early drafts, and Seattle will definitely be trying to get its second-rounder plenty of opportunities. But I think a last-round pick on Moore could pay off.
--Andy Richardson