The rusher hasn’t had the same impact to open this season, with just two games of 75-plus yards and two scores in nine games.
We were able to see some fireworks from Sam Darnold with Shaheed playing alongside JSN. The speed the newly acquired wide receiver brings is exactly the type of dominant weapon the Seahawks needed. With Cooper Kupp dealing with injuries, the Seahawks added a playmaker to make an already good offense even better.
Smith-Njigba will remain the target, but having Shaheed’s ability to take the top defense will give the second-year pro even more open grass to work with.
When everyone is healthy, the 6-2 Seahawks will boast a diverse, strong catching staff with JSN, Shaheed, Kupp and rookie Tory Horton. Throw in tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo, and if the defense holds up, Darnold could have a field day.
For the rebuilding Saints, getting two picks for a player in the final year of his contract makes sense. New Orleans entered the day with just six picks in 2026. For a club in need of a youth infusion, two more lottery picks were to be added. It will hurt rookie QB Tyler Shog the rest of the season, but it was the right call in the long run.