The San Francisco 49ers battled through a season defined by resilience-fighting through a wave of injuries to key players, grinding out 12 regular-season wins, and toppling the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in the Wild Card round. But the playoff run came to an abrupt and humbling end with a 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. Now, as the NFC Championship kicks off without them, the 49ers are turning the page-and there's a lot on that offseason to-do list.
First on the docket: replacing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who just took the head coaching job in Tennessee. But that’s just the beginning.
The front office, led by GM John Lynch, is staring down a roster overhaul with more than 25 players headed toward some form of free agency. That kind of turnover guarantees change-and potentially, a very different-looking 49ers team in 2026.
One area demanding immediate attention is the wide receiver room. With Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore all set to hit free agency-and Lynch confirming that Brandon Aiyuk has played his final snap in red and gold-the Niners have a major hole to fill on the outside. Re-signing Jennings is reportedly a top priority, but even if they bring him back, it’s clear the team needs more depth and reliability at the position.
That need becomes even more urgent with tight end George Kittle expected to miss a significant chunk of next season as he recovers from an Achilles injury. Rookie Ricky Pearsall showed flashes, but consistency remains a question mark. Simply put, the 49ers can’t go into 2026 with this much uncertainty around their pass-catching group.
Enter Rashid Shaheed.
If you watched last weekend’s Divisional Round, you saw exactly what Shaheed can do. He took the opening kickoff against the 49ers 95 yards to the house-a lightning bolt of a return that immediately put San Francisco on its heels. That kind of explosiveness is nothing new for Shaheed, who’s already earned two Pro Bowl nods and a First-Team All-Pro selection (2023) as a return man.
But here’s the thing: Shaheed isn’t just a special teams weapon. He’s got legitimate chops as a receiver, too-and that part of his game might be flying under the radar.
Since being traded from New Orleans to Seattle in early November, Shaheed’s usage in the Seahawks’ offense has been surprisingly limited. Over nine regular-season games with Seattle, he caught just 15 passes for 188 yards and wasn’t even targeted in the playoff win over San Francisco.
But rewind a bit to his time with the Saints, and you see a different story. In nine games before the trade, he hauled in 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns.
Go back another year, and he posted 46 receptions for 719 yards and five scores.
That’s not WR1 production, but it’s more than enough to slot in as a reliable depth option-especially for a team like the 49ers that thrives on spreading the ball around and scheming guys into space.
With Skyy Moore’s future in question and the return game needing a jolt, Shaheed represents a clear upgrade. He brings immediate value as a returner and adds another layer of speed and playmaking to a receiving corps that’s in transition.
The 49ers have big decisions ahead this offseason, and the wide receiver position is right at the top of the list. If they’re looking for a versatile, high-upside addition who can contribute right away and grow into a larger role, Rashid Shaheed should be on their radar. He’s not a splashy headline-grabber, but he’s the kind of piece that can quietly make a big impact-on offense and on special teams.
And after the way their season ended, the 49ers could use a little more explosiveness in both.