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Sitting in first place of the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers have to be feeling pretty good about their 3-1 start coming out of the bye week. Yet, considering they’ve won each game by a single possession, the Steelers know how lucky they’ve gotten thus far.
While the wins are all that matter, the close margin of victory could be seen as a sign that there’s still room for improvement. Though, Steelers general manager Omar Khan has been busy during the bye.
According to 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi, the Steelers contacted the Saints about trading for All-Pro returner/receiver Rashid Shaheed during the bye week. While no deal was completed, Fillipponi says the team was “taking their temperature” on the Saints’ willingness to trade him.
Shaheed is in the final year of his contract, and odds are he’d look to sign an extension with any team that’s trading for him, adding more complications to a potential deal.
Would be a complicated deal. Shaheed is obviously incredibly talented, but he’s not under contract beyond this year. Someone would have to be willing to trade for him and pay a new contract. https://t.co/7Be9wWiM3q
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) October 9, 2025
It’s possible the Steelers are just putting out feelers, trying to gather information ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which comes on the Tuesday after Week 9. If the Steelers reached out to the Saints about their skilled returner, it’s possible they’ve made calls to other teams too.
It’s also no coincidence that the Steelers are looking for an upgrade at kick returner after witnessing rookie running back Kaleb Johnson ignore the football landing in the end zone, leading to an easy Seahawks touchdown in Week 2. Shaheed would surely never make that mistake as a fourth-year pro.
While he’s primarily known for his return skills, Shaheed could help the Steelers as a receiver too. His best season came in 2023, when he made eight starts and 15 appearances, hauling in 46 receptions for 719 yards and five touchdowns. He’s up to 22 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns through five starts this year, putting him on pace for a respectable 979-yard season.
The Saints haven’t even elected to use Shaheed as a kick returner this season, but he’s still handing punts. He’s taken six punt returns for a total of 91 yards, including a 40-yard gain. Those splash plays are exactly what the Steelers are seeking, and it’s possible the Saints will be open to a deal closer to the deadline.
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