Saints Shock Fans by Trading Rashid Shaheed to Seahawks—Is Sam Darnold’s Next Weapon a Game-Changer?

In a move that’s shaking up rosters just before the NFL trade deadline, the New Orleans Saints have parted ways with their dynamic wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, sending him over to the Seattle Seahawks. The deal, locked in with the Seahawks handing over their 2026 fourth- and fifth-round picks, signals Seattle’s aggressive push to bolster their offensive firepower with Shaheed’s explosive speed and proven playmaking ability. Since slipping into the Saints un-drafted in 2022, Shaheed has carved out an impressive niche—garnering All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods for his electrifying punt returns and steadily growing as a key weapon in New Orleans’ passing game. Although his 2024 season was cut short due to a knee injury, his stats this year still show he’s a reliable target and a threat on the field. Now, reunited with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak—his playcaller in New Orleans—Shaheed’s gearing up for a fresh opportunity in Seattle’s high-octane offense, led by QB Sam Darnold and featuring standout talents like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. With the Seahawks poised at 6-2 and hungry for more, this trade might just be the spark for Shaheed’s next breakthrough season. LEARN MORE

The New Orleans Saints have traded fourth-year wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks confirmed the move in a press release Tuesday, just ahead of the NFL trade deadline. Seattle has sent its 2026 fourth- and fifth-round picks in exchange for the speedy wideout.

Shaheed, 27, was an undrafted free agent signing for the Saints in 2022. Through just over three seasons in New Orleans, Shaheed had 138 career receptions for 2,055 yards and 12 touchdowns over 42 games. Shaheed earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his 2023 season as a punt returner and saw an increased role in the Saints’ offense over each of his four seasons.

[Get more Saints news: New Orleans team feed]

Shaheed’s 2024 campaign ended prematurely after he suffered a season-ending knee injury that required surgical repair. Through nine games this season, he’s totaled 499 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 44 catches, ranking second on the Saints in total targets, only behind star receiver Chris Olave, and averaging a career-best 7.33 targets per game. But Shaheed is averaging 11.3 yards per reception and 7.6 yards per target — both marks well below his career averages (14.9 and 9.5, respectively).

Tom Brady claims his current dog Junie was cloned from his former dog Lua who died in 2023

The former Weber State Wildcat is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and will have a prime opportunity with the Seahawks to earn a payday come next March, as he reunites with OC Klint Kubiak, who was with the Saints in the 2024 season.

Seattle currently sits with a 6-2 record and has been an offensive juggernaut this year with quarterback Sam Darnold at the helm, tied with the Indianapolis Colts to lead the league with 6.3 yards per play, ranked fifth in points per game (28.9) and fourth in passing yards per game (255.1).

[Get more Seahawks news: Seattle team feed]

Darnold’s efficient play could be the ticket to a true breakout campaign for Shaheed, who has spent most of 2025 catching passes from Spencer Rattler. Among the 31 quarterbacks with at least 150 dropbacks, Rattler has ranked 24th in NFL passer rating (86.8) and 25th in yards per attempt (6.2) to pair with an 8-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Shaheed now joins a receiving corps alongside third-year standout receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who currently leads the NFL with 948 receiving yards through eight games, as well as veteran Cooper Kupp and rookie Tory Horton.

Smith-Njigba reacted to the trade, posting an eyes emoji on X as the news dropped, with Shaheed’s now-former teammate Olave sharing with the notation, “You got a great one bro.”

Olave had also been the subject of plenty of trade speculation ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, given the Saints’ desperate need to rebuild and their ever-evolving salary cap issues. Olave, a first-round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft class, is also in his fourth season in the league. He has one year left on his rookie contract after the Saints picked up his fifth-year option, and will soon be due a payday after back-to-back 1,000-plus yard campaigns to open up his career.