The New Orleans Saints head into the offseason with one glaring need that’s hard to ignore: they need another reliable wide receiver to pair with Chris Olave. And with free agency looming, there’s a familiar name who could make a lot of sense-Rashid Shaheed.
Shaheed isn’t a stranger to the Saints. He was traded midseason to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for 2026 fourth- and fifth-round picks, a move that made sense at the time.
New Orleans was in the middle of a 1-8 spiral, leaning hard into a rebuild. Shaheed became a valuable piece for Seattle, contributing both as a receiver and a return specialist on their run to a Super Bowl title.
But now? The Saints aren’t the same team they were when they made that deal.
After handing the keys to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, New Orleans closed the season with five wins in their final nine games. It wasn’t just a cosmetic improvement-the offense found a rhythm, the locker room got a spark, and suddenly, the Saints looked more like a team building toward contention than one tearing it all down. That late-season push has shifted the front office’s mindset from rebuilding to reloading.
Which brings us back to Shaheed.
At 27, he’s set to hit free agency, and the timing couldn’t be better for a reunion. He only played one game with Shough under center, but he made it count-five catches for 68 yards, leading the team in receiving that day. It was a glimpse of what he could bring to this version of the Saints: a vertical threat who stretches defenses and opens up space underneath for Olave and the tight ends.
Shaheed’s speed is a problem for defenses. He’s not just a gadget guy or a return specialist-though he’s excellent in that role too.
He brings real value as a deep-ball target, something this Saints offense sorely lacks outside of Olave. And with Shough showing promise as a downfield passer, adding a weapon like Shaheed could help unlock the full potential of this offense.
The beauty of this move? It wouldn’t break the bank.
Shaheed won’t command top-tier receiver money, but he has the kind of upside that makes him a smart, cost-effective signing. And if the Saints can bring him back, they’d essentially have rented him out for a playoff run, picked up two draft picks, and now get a chance to re-sign him with a better roster in place.
Bottom line: if New Orleans is serious about contending in the NFC South, they need more than just internal growth. They need proven playmakers. And Rashid Shaheed-who already knows the system, the locker room, and the expectations-could be the kind of savvy addition that helps this team take the next step.