Pro Football Rumors
This offseason, the Seahawks authorized a three-year, $51MM deal for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to keep him from hitting free agency. That suggests the defending champions believe he will have more of a role on offense than he had after Seattle acquired him via trade from the Saints in advance of last year’s deadline.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms as much (video link). Per Fowler, new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will implement more motions and shifts, which will allow Shaheed to work short and intermediate routes and allow quarterback Sam Darnold to get the ball to the speedster quickly, with room to run. Fowler adds Shaheed had a “major spring” and was “hitting it off with Darnold,” which supports his prediction of an increased workload.
It was not a foregone conclusion that Shaheed would re-sign with the ‘Hawks. Over 12 regular season and playoff contests with Seattle, he caught 18 balls for 206 scoreless yards, and though he added a punt return touchdown and two scores on kickoff returns, the expectation was that he would hit the open market and perhaps join a club that would be able to better utilize his blend of offensive and special teams talents.
As of March 4, the two sides reportedly were not close to an agreement, but on March 9, they struck an accord that reflects Shaheed’s importance to the Seahawks’ 2026 offense. That said, the contract does not include any guaranteed money for the 2027-28 seasons, save for an $11.74MM injury guarantee in ‘27 that does not shift to a full guarantee until five days after Super Bowl LXI.
That gives Seattle an easy out after the upcoming campaign, and it keeps the pressure on Shaheed to produce at a high level. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is part of a talented trio of wideouts that includes 2021 Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a record-setting extension two weeks after Shaheed’s re-up.
Shaheed has earned two Pro Bowl nods (in 2023 and 2025) for his return prowess. Including the 2025 postseason, he has amassed five return TDs (three on punts and two on kickoffs) over his four-year NFL career. Before the trade with New Orleans last year, he was on pace to have his best offensive output as a pro, as he had caught 44 passes for 499 yards and two TDs over nine contests.
