Just ask one of the hottest teams in football, the Seattle Seahawks — they’re ramping up their offense! They recently signed Rashid Shaheed, a 27-year-old former New Orleans Saints speed merchant. This acquisition, finalized just before the NFL’s trade deadline, aims to bolster the team’s receiving corps and provide quarterback Sam Darnold with a reliable deep threat alongside fellow receiver DK Smith-Njigba.
Shaheed’s arrival couldn’t come at a more important time for the Seahawks. For whatever reason, maybe because Darnold is tied for the league lead in average intended air yards at 9.6. Shaheed’s other-worldly speed will be a huge asset for him going forward. The simple fact that he can stretch the field gives their opponents’ defenses an example of where they can’t just focus all their attention on Smith-Njigba. Shaheed, a certified flame thrower, has done that scoring with picturesque flair. He’s already accumulated six career touchdowns of 50 yards or more, and nearly all of his 12 career touchdowns are from 30-plus yards out.
Seattle’s front office did weeks of homework on Shaheed before signing him. In particular, they really paid attention once Cooper Kupp’s injury opened up a hole in their receiving game plan. To land Robinson, the Seahawks took a risk by dealing away their fourth- and fifth-round selections from next April’s draft. They landed a premier wide receiver with a favorable long-term contract from which to trade. General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald hold intimate knowledge of Shaheed’s abilities, having worked with him during his time in New Orleans under coordinator Mike Kubiak, which should allow him to integrate swiftly into Seattle’s system.
Shaheed’s presence could have a positive impact on the Seahawks’ run game, which has struggled this season, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, ranking second worst in the NFL. With defenses now required to account for Shaheed’s deep threat capability, it may open up additional running lanes for the Seahawks’ backs.
Shaheed’s numbers are eye-popping. He ranks third in air yards per target at 13.63 and ninth in yards per reception at 14.9 since he came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2022. Keeping up his pace of 118.5 receiving yards per game will be challenging. Regardless, his ability to command defensive focus might prevent his floor from ever dropping too low.
The exact role Shaheed will play within Seattle’s receiver hierarchy during the second half of the season remains contingent on Kupp’s health and availability. One thing is clear: his arrival brings a much-needed dynamic to an offense looking to regain its competitive edge as they navigate through the remainder of the season.
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