WR Rashid Shaheed is Primed for a Big Year 2 in Seattle
Ross Johnston discusses Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed and the opportunity for him to become a much bigger part of the passing game going into his second year with the team.
Video Transcript
So Albert Breer's been hearing some stuff from inside the Seahawks building, and they have very high hopes for year two of Rasheed Shaheed and his growth as a wide receiver in their offense.
What's up, y'all?
It's Ross Johnston with A to Z Sports, and I cannot love this more, and I'm here to tell you why.
Now, starting with last year, the Seahawks had nine games out of Rasheed Shaheed, and we mainly saw his impact through special teams.
Didn't have a ton of targets, I believe under 200 yards receiving with the team.
Mainly that special teams return game aspect, which was excellent for them.
But he's going to have a big opportunity this year as a wide receiver, and he certainly should because of Seattle's room.
Let's start with this.
Everyone knows Seattle has maybe the best receiver in all of football in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who won Offensive Player of the Year last year.
He's the bona fide wide receiver one.
He's going to get the bulk of the targets.
However, after him in the wide receiver room, it gets a little dicey because Cooper Kupp is getting older, and Cooper Kupp only had 70 targets last season.
So they need another wide receiver up in that range of 80, 90 targets, and Shaheed can be the guy.
We all know he's got blazing speed.
Here you see in the quote, they view him as a potential gadget guy like a Deebo Samuel.
You can get the football to him in many different ways, jet sweeps, tap passes, screen game, whatever it may be.
Plus, Shaheed with the Saints in nine games last year when he had a more expanded role at receiver had about 500 yards receiving.
So clearly, if he is used more as a wide receiver, he can step up to the billing and make the productive plays and catches that the team needs from him.
Now, looking at this depth chart, you obviously want Cooper Kupp out there still.
He is a veteran.
He can work the slot, has great hands, can still run routes well.
Probably not what he used to be athletically, but he is still a serviceable receiver.
And then the man you drafted last year out of Miami, Torry Horton, showed some good stuff last year.
He wasn't healthy, only played about half the season, but when he was out there, he was making some good plays.
Then you've got some floater guys like Jake Bobo, who's been on the team for a few years now.
And you know, he's more of a special teams guy, but he can play a little bit.
And they drafted rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Out of Kansas this year in the sixth round.
But with all that said, when I go through those lists of names, Rasheed Shaheed obviously makes sense to be the wide receiver two for the Seattle Seahawks in 2026.
If it's not him, it might be tight end AJ Barner.
But the point being, Shaheed needs to get the football more in the offense and be used a lot more because he has such a unique skill set in terms of his speed and athleticism and what he can do with the ball in his hands.
I'm expecting a big year from Rasheed Shaheed.
I would imagine that he will be up there in that 600 to 900 yard range while JSN is well over 1,000.
Let me know what y'all think in the comments below.
And as always, can't wait for some Seahawks football.
