One by one, the New England Patriots have watched the top free-agent wide receivers come off the board. This time, it was Rashid Shaheed, who reportedly plans to sign a contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks.
Shaheed and the Seahawks agreed to terms on a three-year, $51 million deal with $34.7 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. And just like that, Seattle picks up another massive victory over New England; too soon, Patriots fans?
It's no secret that New England needs to bolster star quarterback Drake Maye's supporting cast, especially after releasing veteran wideout Stefon Diggs. However, they continue to see the best players available on the open market go elsewhere, like Shaheed.
Patriots see another high-profile WR fall off the board after Rashid Shaheed re-signs with Seahawks
From Shaheed to Alec Pierce, Wan'Dale Robinson and Mike Evans, the list is starting to pile up. Suddenly, the Patriots don't have much of a choice other than to pivot and put all their eggs in the Romeo Doubs basket. That's far from ideal for a New England squad hoping to return to the Super Bowl after winning the AFC in 2025.
What makes Shaheed's decision to re-up with the Seahawks even worse is that the two sides were far apart on a new pact days ago. Alas, the Patriots didn't have much of a chance to take advantage because the league's two-day negotiating period didn't open until March 9.
The Patriots could've really benefitted from adding a top-tier playmaker of Shaheed's caliber. His speed and explosiveness allow him to impact winning in more ways than one. Not only is he one of the NFL's premier deep threats who has flashed three-level skills, but the 27-year-old is a special teams ace.
There's arguably no return man more dangerous with the ball in their hands than Shaheed. He's earned Pro Bowl honors twice for his efforts in the kicking game and an All-Pro nod in 2023. We saw him kick off the Seahawks' title run this past season with a 95-yard house call.
Shaheed may have been the last name out there with a case to be an upgrade from Diggs. Let's see if the Patriots can get creative, because if not, things can get messy quickly. They can't afford to lose pass-catching talent if they want to continue building on their remarkably quick turnaround.