Why Rashid Shaheed could have a breakout 2026 season for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks spent a few draft picks on Rashid Shaheed in a trade with the New Orleans Saints at the deadline in 2025, and it worked wonders. He was electric in the return game for the Seahawks, earning an All-Pro honor in the process.

But Shaheed is a wide receiver, and yet he's not done a whole lot in that role for the Seahawks, and even back when he was with the Saints. The potential is there, but he's yet to reach it.

Saad Yousuf of The Athletic named Shaheed as the Seahawks' top breakout candidate, and for good reason. Looking at Shaheed's situation for 2026, there are a couple of factors at play that could help him turn in a breakout season as a wide receiver.

Why Rashid Shaheed could have a breakout 2026 season

"Jaxon Smith-Njigba had his breakout campaign in 2025, so defenses will be gearing up to stop him," Yousuf writes. "Cooper Kupp is still a reliable veteran, but he's getting older and missed at least five games in the three seasons prior to last year."

The wide receiver room around Shaheed could open the door for the Seahawks wide receiver to finally have a breakout season.

Sure, Smith-Njigba will get plenty of work in 2026, but with defenses focusing on him, Shaheed might get a lot more opportunities this upcoming season.

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Kupp's injury history and his age are big factors at play for why his usage might not be as great as it was a year ago for Seattle.

Shaheed put up just 188 yards receiving with no touchdowns on 15 receptions in nine games with the Seahawks this past season. He also ran for 64 yards on seven attempts in the regular season.

In the playoffs, Shaheed caught three passes for 78 yards and ran for 22 without scoring a touchdown. He had a very limited role in year-one for the Seahawks offense.

But with a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fluery, coming in, things could be a bit different for the All-Pro WR/returner.

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"New offensive coordinator Brian Fluery is taking over after seven years in San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan, where he's seen how dynamic weapons can be maximized," Yousuf writes.

Between the change in coaching, the WR room's dynamic changing with Kupp's uncertainty and Smith-Nijgba's attention, Shaheed has a path to breaking out this season.

Hitting 1,000 yards or 10 touchdowns might not be realistic, but Shaheed could easily put together a solid year with career-highs in receptions with at least 60, yards with at least 720, and touchdowns with at least six. That's totally possible for the Seahawks WR.

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