As a returner, Rashid Shaheed was a game-changer during the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run this past season.

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After arriving from the New Orleans Saints in Nov. 4 trade, the speedy Shaheed had two punt return touchdowns and a kick return score in 12 combined regular-season and postseason games with the Seahawks – including a 58-yard punt return TD that sparked their pivotal Week 16 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams.

However, Shaheed didn’t have nearly the same level of production as a receiver with his new team. After tallying 44 catches for 499 yards and two TDs in New Orleans last year, he totaled just 18 catches for 266 yards in his 12 games with Seattle.

Yet, when the Seahawks re-signed Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million deal earlier this month, it was a clear indication that they view the 27-year-old wideout as an integral part of their offense moving forward.

At the NFL’s annual league meetings on Monday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald explained why they’re anticipating more production from Shaheed as a receiver in 2026.

“We’re going to have such a better idea of what he can do,” Macdonald said, via Seahawks.com. “Him understanding more, spending all (that) time on the detail of the routes and the timing and getting on the same page and the chemistry.”

There were several times last season when quarterback Sam Darnold and Shaheed just missed connecting for a big play. One instance came in Seattle’s Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, when Shaheed burst open down the sideline but Darnold’s pass was slightly underthrown.

“I could think off the top of my head like three or four plays (last season) where we’re inches away from explosive plays,” Macdonald said. “And some of those more intermediate cuts, we were just like a hair off on timing or location. So, that’s kind of the detail we’re going to be attacking this offseason – try to make sure we’re rolling during the season.”

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