Rashid Shaheed might have been one of the happiest players to learn he was on the move at the NFL trade deadline Tuesday.
The wide receiver was dealt from the one-win New Orleans Saints, who are in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, to a Seattle Seahawks team that has won three games in a row and is tied for first place in the competitive NFC West.
Shaheed is expected to make his debut with the Seahawks (6-2) debut Sunday when they play host to the Arizona Cardinals (3-5).
“Just excited about the journey, excited to be here and excited to be a part of this organization,” Shaheed said. “So far, it’s been nothing but welcoming and just feeling good right now.”
Shaheed, who will be a free agent after the season, was acquired for fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2026 draft.
At his first news conference Wednesday in Seattle, he proclaimed he was “here to stay.”
“I’m excited to see if we can figure something out after the season ends,” said Shaheed, who had 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns with the Saints this season.
Shaheed was considered a fit for the Seahawks as he played under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in New Orleans. Shaheed was on his way to career highs when he suffered a knee injury in Week 6 last season.
“I’m super glad to be connected back with (Kubiak),” Shaheed said. “He’s familiar with me. He knows my strengths, and I know what his mindset is going into games. It shouldn’t be too hard to get acclimated with him and just find my role in the offense.”
The Seahawks were looking for someone to play opposite Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league with 948 receiving yards. Cooper Kupp missed last week’s 38-14 victory at Washington with hamstring and heel injuries, one of three wideouts who were sidelined. Rookie Tory Horton made two TD catches and Cody White added another after being signed off the practice squad.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said he was excited about acquiring a speedster like Shaheed.
“It’s a great opportunity to add to our team,” Macdonald said. “Didn’t feel like we were missing something. Not like we were trying to plug holes or anything like that. Just an opportunity to get a great player and augment what we were doing.”
Arizona arrives with quarterback Jacoby Brissett holding firm as the starter.
The Cardinals will be without quarterback Kyler Murray because of a nagging foot injury that has caused him to miss the past three games. The Cardinals placed Murray on injured reserve Wednesday.
Brissett will make his fourth straight start Sunday. He has fared well in Murray’s absence, throwing for 860 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
Brissett threw for 261 yards and two TDs last week as the Cardinals snapped a five-game losing streak with a 27-17 victory at Dallas.
“It doesn’t really change much for me,” Brissett said. “The cliche answer is you always prepare like you’re the starter, but it’s honestly true. It won’t change how I go about my business.”
In addition to Murray, the Cardinals practiced without linebacker Mack Wilson (ribs) and cornerback Max Melton (concussion) this week.
For the Seahawks, Kupp and fellow receivers Jake Bobo (calf) and Dareke Young (quadriceps) missed practice time, as well as cornerback Josh Jobe (concussion).
The Seahawks and Cardinals met in Week 4 in Glendale, Ariz. Seattle blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter before Jason Myers kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give the Seahawks a 23-20 victory.
-Field Level Media
