Shaheed appeared in 15 video games (eight begins) in 2023 and performed 58% of his accessible offensive snaps, in comparison with 42% as a rookie.
He had 46 receptions, 719 yards and 5 touchdowns. He added 339 yards and a landing as a punt returner and 384 yards on 18 kickoff returns.
Per Stathead, he ranked tenth within the NFL in all-purpose yards (1,479) and was the one participant with a minimum of 500 receiving yards and 500 return yards final 12 months.
Shaheed is a flexible menace who might blossom right into a family title in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme, who was employed this offseason after spending 2023 as 49ers passing sport coordinator.
It is easy to think about Shaheed in an identical function to San Francisco wideout Deebo Samuel. The Niners had been glorious at getting Samuel the ball in area by lining him up in numerous methods, together with out vast, within the slot and within the backfield.
Since 2019, Samuel is the one participant within the NFL with a minimum of 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 dashing yards.
Shaheed is a superb deep menace, however he might see extra alternatives nearer to and behind the road of scrimmage. Per information from Professional Soccer Focus, final season, 29.6% of Shaheed’s targets got here on targets 20 or extra yards downfield and he had 12 receptions, 474 yards and 5 touchdowns on such performs.
Of his 71 targets, 56.4% had been at a depth of 9 yards or fewer, in comparison with a 70.1% charge for Samuel.
Given the crew’s perilous cap place, Shaheed’s extension is exactly the kind of transfer New Orleans wanted to make.
In line with Over The Cap, the Saints are a projected $88.2 million above the 2025 wage cap. Basic supervisor Mickey Loomis can implement his standard tips to make the franchise cap-compliant, however including exterior expertise may very well be difficult.
Shaheed isn’t solely a priceless asset for New Orleans but additionally arguably one of many league’s largest bargains.
He is set to make $985,000 in 2024 and the Saints had been clever to increase him earlier than his inventory soars out of their worth vary.
