We’ve got just 22 days left until the New Orleans Saints open up their 2024 regular season against the Carolina Panthers, which means the current owner of the No. 22 jersey is our Saints Player of the Day. Rashid Shaheed is going into 2024 with a ton of momentum, having earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition for his skills in the return game while breaking out as one of Derek Carr’s favorite receivers last season — and then he signed a contract extension to stay with the Saints through 2025.
But what’s his story? What are realistic expectations for Shaheed in 2024? Let’s dig in.
- Name (Age): Rashid Shaheed (25)
- Position: Wide receiver/returns specialist
- Height, weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: N/A
- 2024 salary cap hit: $1,235,000
- College: Weber State
- Drafted: Undrafted in 2022 (New Orleans Saints)
- NFL experience: 3rd season
Shaheed grew up in San Diego (where he happened to cross paths with Drew Brees once as an elementary school student) and played high school football at Mt. Carmel, where he was recruited to Weber State in Utah. He earned All-American honors four times in college and finished with the third-most all-purpose yards in school history, which helped put him on the Saints’ radar as an undrafted free agent despite suffering a serious knee injury in his senior year.
Still, the Saints took a patient approach with Shaheed’s recovery, and it paid off. He made some exciting plays as a rookie in 2022 (while wearing the No. 89 jersey), ripping off a 44-yard touchdown run with his first touch and a 53-yard touchdown catch with his first reception. Then he switched to No. 22 before the 2023 season and truly broke out after getting in a full offseason of work.
He totaled 719 receiving yards along with 384 kick return yards and 339 punt return yards last season (plus 37 rushing yards), scoring five touchdown catches and a punt return touchdown. Shaheed was the only player in the NFL to have 300-plus return yards on both punts and kickoffs while also gaining more than 500 yards of offense. Look at the runners-up:
- Rashid Shaheed (Saints): 756 scrimmage yards, 384 KR yards, 339 PR yards. 1,479 all-purpose yards
- Xavier Gipson (Jets): 297 scrimmage yards, 511 KR yards, 319 PR yards. 1,127 all-purpose yards
- Marvin Mims (Broncos): 407 scrimmage yards, 397 KR yards, 312 PR yards. 1,116 all-purpose yards
- Derius Davis (Chargers): 167 scrimmage yards, 374 KR yards, 385 PR yards. 926 all-purpose yards
The hope is for Shaheed to take another step forward with Klint Kubiak calling plays instead of Pete Carmichael. Finding new, creative ways to get Shaheed involved and taking full advantage of his athleticism is a high priority. At the same time, he needs to prove he’s a more well-rounded player. Last season he was rotated out of games in favor of guys like Keith Kirkwood and Lynn Bowden Jr. because Shaheed couldn’t throw his weight around as well blocking for his teammates. He’s currently dealing with a toe or foot injury, so we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s severe, but the expectation is for Shaheed to be a big player for the team this year.
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