The Seahawks may be headed toward the open market with one of their most explosive playmakers. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on X that Rashid Shaheed is ânot closeâ to an extension with Seattle and the expectation is that he will test the free-agent market on Monday, per sources.
Monday, March 9, is the start of the NFLâs legal negotiating window (teams can talk terms), before the new league year begins Wednesday, March 11. That means Seattleâs clock is officially ticking if it wants to prevent a bidding war.
Key Points
- Schefter says an extension isnât close; expectation is Shaheed tests the market Monday.
- Shaheed finished the 2025 season with Seattle after arriving from New Orleans in-season.
- Seattle has meaningful 2026 cap room, but WR market pressure is real.
Rashid Shaheed Contract
Shaheed is positioned to hit free agency because his deal is expiring and Spotrac lists him as a decently valuable 2026 free agent. Thatâs the nightmare scenario for Seattle when a player flashes big-play traits late in the year, because it only takes one team to overpay.
Hereâs the money snapshot:
- Current deal: Spotrac shows his current contract average salary at $5.2 million (contract expiring into 2026 free agency).
- Projected value: Spotracâs calculated market value pegs him around 3 years, ~$42.38 million (about $14.1M AAV).
If Shaheed hits the negotiating window Monday, Seattle can still re-sign him, but theyâll be negotiating in the same lane as every WR-needy team. And because the signing period doesnât open until March 11, the next few days are typically where frameworks get built (and prices climb).
ESPN’s Brady Henderson also suggested Shaheed could command up to $18 million a year.
Rashid Shaheed Stats
Shaheedâs Seahawks production matters because it changes how teams will price him. According to NFL.comâs stats breakdown, he appeared in 9 games for Seattle in 2025, logging 15 receptions for 188 yards, plus 7 rushing attempts for 64 yards.
Zooming out to the full body of work, NFL.com lists his career totals as 153 catches, 2,243 receiving yards and 12 TDs (plus return/rush value). Pro Football Reference also reflects 2,243 career receiving yards.
And the context Seattle fans will remember: Shaheed arrived in a midseason move. We previously reported the Seahawks acquired him from the Saints for draft picks (pending a physical), with the idea he could add juice immediately.
Rashid Shaheed 40 Time
One reason Shaheedâs market could move fast once the negotiating window opens is simple: teams pay for speed, and Shaheedâs calling card has always been âhome-runâ acceleration.
The tricky part? There isnât a clean, universally accepted âofficialâ 40-yard dash number on him from the pre-draft process. Fox Sports reported Shaheed was coming off ACL surgery late in college and couldnât run at his pro day or fully showcase for scouts, which is a big reason he entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
That said, speed evaluators still attach an estimate to his profile:
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PlayerProfiler lists Shaheedâs 40-yard dash at 4.53 seconds under âWorkout Metrics.â
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A 2025 Yahoo Sports piece also noted the lack of a readily available official time, pointing out that Shaheed didnât test in that setting.
Fan reaction snapshot
Seattle fans are already split on what âtesting free agencyâ really means. From the main discussion thread:
Seahawks Cap Space
If youâre wondering whether the Seahawks can afford Shaheed at a market-rate number, the early answer is yes, depending on priorities.
- OverTheCap lists Seattle at about $58.08 million in cap space.
- Spotrac shows ~$60.73 million (Top-51/offseason) cap space.
That âTop-51â offseason accounting will shift as Seattle fills out the bottom of the roster, but the big picture is clear: the Seahawks have room to play, yet WR spending competes with every other need (OL, defensive front, depth, etc.). A $14M-per-year WR bet is doable, but it becomes a question of allocation more than ability.
What happens next?
- March 9 (Monday): Negotiating window opens, Shaheedâs market forms fast.
- March 11 (Wednesday): League year starts; deals can become official.
- Seattleâs choice: match market (and decide his role/targets) or pivot to cheaper WR/return options through the draft and value free agents.
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