Many think that the 6-2 Seahawks have a good chance of winning the NFC West title. What’s the team’s potential now that they’ve traded for one of the fastest players in the league?
The Seahawks acquired wide receiver Rashid Shaheed on Tuesday morning in a trade with the New Orleans Saints for 2026 fourth- and fifth-round NFL draft picks.
The 27-year-old veteran has 44 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns this season. He was in his fourth year with the Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2022.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Shaheed reached 21.72 mph on an 87-yard touchdown reception in Week 5, the fastest speed recorded on a touchdown this season.
Rashid Shaheed reached a top speed of 21.72 mph on his 87-yard deep touchdown reception from Spencer Rattler, the fastest speed recorded on an offensive touchdown this season.#NYGvsNO | #Saints pic.twitter.com/DQ5Km0eHoi
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 5, 2025
Watch Rashid Shaheed reach his top speed 🔥
Fastest ball carrier of Week 5 (21.72 mph) @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/9JvfjqKWUI
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2025
The 6-foot, 180-pounder joins a potent receiving corps: NFC Offensive Player of the Month Jaxon Smith-Njigba, veteran Cooper Kupp and energetic rookie Tory Horton, who scored two touchdowns Sunday.
Shaheed shouldn’t have much of a learning curve, having played under Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak last year before Kubiak left the Saints in January.
Here’s what the national media had to say about the Seahawks’ trade for Shaheed.
CBS Sports: The best just got better, gives Seahawks’ trade an A- grade
John Breech writes: “The Seahawks already have one of the league’s best offenses, and it just got better with Shaheed … This was a deal that the Seahawks needed to make for two reasons: They needed a reliable deep threat and were in serious need of some receiver depth. Shaheed checks both of those boxes. When it comes to the deep ball, Shaheed has been among the league’s best receivers. Since his rookie year in 2022, he has caught 11 touchdown passes of 40 yards or more, which is that span’s third most, behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Tyreek Hill … From a depth standpoint, this move also helps Seattle a lot. The highflying Seahawks scored 38 points in a Week 9 win over the Commanders, but they did that with multiple receivers sidelined due to injuries. Cooper Kupp (heel, hamstring), Dareke Young (quadriceps) and Jake Bobo (Achilles) were all ruled out.”
.@12s he's hereee pic.twitter.com/1xpNV9s5xS
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 5, 2025
USA TODAY: Seahawks win, NFC West loses
Jacob Camenker writes: “The team [has a] need for a more dynamic complement to [Jaxon Smith-Njigba]. Shaheed should fit the bill, as his deep speed will help open up space for Smith-Njigba to operate. It will also take attention away from Cooper Kupp, who has primarily operated out of the slot in his first season with the Seahawks, and allow him to be a consistent, shorter-yardage safety valve for Sam Darnold. Add in the flashes rookie Tory Horton has shown and the Seahawks are suddenly four-deep at receiver with a nice mix of upside and experience. That should help them as they prepare for a playoff run in 2025.”
New Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed has arrived. Seattle practices this afternoon, which is also when we’ll hear from Mike Macdonald.
(Via Seahawks/IG) pic.twitter.com/RHpuvI0pSh
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) November 5, 2025
We feel the need… pic.twitter.com/wKXPqGkHMn
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 5, 2025
ESPN: Pairs well with QB Sam Darnold
Brady Henderson writes: “Since he entered the league …, he ranks third in air yards per target (13.63) and ninth in yards per reception (14.9). He’s a natural complement to Darnold, who is tied for the league lead in average intended air yards (9.6), according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Shaheed has six career touchdowns of at least 50 yards, and all but two of his 12 career scores were from at least 30 yards out.”
Here was Mike Macdonald talking about newly-acquired WR Rashid Shaheed.
“The speed’s real,” he said.
The Seahawks had a good feel for Shaheed the player and person as OC Klint Kubiak coached him last season in New Orleans.
“Our type of guy,” Macdonald called him. pic.twitter.com/Hn6vPMz3pR
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) November 5, 2025
The league average completion percentage on throws of 20+ air yards is 40.3% this season.
TWO quarterbacks completing 70% of their deep balls this season: Drake Maye and Sam Darnold 👏 pic.twitter.com/o8oGjqFael
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 14, 2025
The Athletic: Talent over fit?
Dianna Russini writes: “Fit is just as important as talent when it comes to player acquisition. Seattle general manager John Schneider has been burned in the past by focusing more on the latter than the former, and as a result, he has acquired players either via trade or free agency who weren’t good fits inside the building. Shaheed’s contract expires after this season. The familiarity with Kubiak’s system will help with the on-field part, but these next few months will be about learning Shaheed the person and whether he’s a long-term fit in Seattle.”
Big things tend to happen when Rashid Shaheed gets the ball
NYGvsNO on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/U9xHkHqrdj
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025
Rashid Shaheed says he hopes to make this his new home long-term, but that’s a conversation for after the season pic.twitter.com/Pxe73j1CfB
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) November 5, 2025
Sophia Vesely: svesely@seattletimes.com. Sophia Vesely is a general assignment sports reporter at the Seattle Times. wrote for the Dallas Morning News and the Orlando Sentinel before joining the Seattle Times in 2025.