Rashid Shaheed Trade Looking Like Heist for John Schneider, Seahawks
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) runs against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images [/caption]
Rashid Shaheed is widely respected around the league for his sheer speed and special teams prowess. He also has shown his ability to take the top off of a defense in the passing game from time to time, though subpar quarterback play at times in his career has limited his ceiling in that regard.
Heading towards the deadline in late October, Seahawks general manager John Schneider saw a need in Seattle for a bit more of a dynamic toolkit on offense and special teams. The Seahawks acquired the speedy gadget receiver from the Saints ahead of the trade deadline, in exchange for a 2026 fourth and fifth-round pick, relatively low assets in today’s NFL trade market.
Shaheed already knew offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s system from New Orleans, which shortened his learning curve and increased his chances of success in Seattle, something often underestimated in midseason trades
The intention of the deal was that Shaheed’s skillset would give Sam Darnold and the Seahawks ability to stretch the field vertically and even horizontally, with some jet sweeps in the run game. Plus, a game can completely flip on its head with a big special teams play.
Seven games into his Seattle tenure, it’s safe to say this was another home run trade for Schneider, who should win the NFL Executive of the Year, but likely won’t if history serves as any indication.
Not once, but twice, Shaheed has directly impacted the result of a Seahawks game in his short time in the Pacific Northwest. When the Seahawks were stuck in the mud in Atlanta, tied 6-6 at halftime with a reeling Falcons team, it was Shaheed that sparked the team. On the second half opening kickoff, Shaheed took it 100 yards, barely even getting touched, all the way to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown. Seattle never looked back, pounding Atlanta into oblivion. The team responded to Shaheed’s kick starter by pulling away for a 28-point victory.
Thursday night against the Rams, it happened again. Instead of putting Seattle ahead, Shaheed’s speed in the return game kicked open the coffin that the Rams were nailing the Seahawks into.
Trailing 30-14, the Seahawks clinging to life, Shaheed fielded the punt at Seattle’s own 42 yard line. He took off like a rocket down the near sideline and tip-toed into the endzone for a 58-yard punt return touchdown. That marked the second punt return touchdown for Seattle this season, which are the first two punt return scores for Seattle since Tyler Lockett’s in 2015. With the Seahawks getting the two-point conversion, it cut the game to one score game with roughly eight minutes left at 30-22.
That punt return score sparked the comeback for the ages in Seattle history, with Shaheed becoming only the fourth player in team history to produce a kick and punt return for a touchdown in the same season, accomplishing the feat in just a three-game span.
Those kinds of game-changing moments don’t come from most players, and Seattle got Shaheed in a trade for a few mid-round picks.
But it’s not just those two returns that have showcased the fourth-year receiver’s value. Shaheed also had a 31-yard rush against the Rams. He totaled 141 receiving yards against the Falcons and Colts in the two weeks prior. Against the Colts, he made a few big catches, including one to help set up Seattle’s game winning field goal, when the defense was keying on Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
On the heels of picking up Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones at the trade deadline in the two previous seasons, Shaheed’s arrival has proven to be another shrewd, impactful move by Schneider that might have changed the complexion of this Seahawks season by turning them from a potential playoff team to a true Super Bowl contender, making a fourth and fifth round pick in exchange look like a real bargain.
