The message the Seahawks sent once the 2025 NFL trade deadline passed?
They like their core, and they are playing for the now.
The Seahawks made only one move Tuesday, adding receiver Rashid Shaheed in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. To get him, they gave up two Day 3 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, in the fourth and fifth rounds.
That was all the action for the Seahawks. Rumors swirled about possible trades involving Riq Woolen or Boye Mafe, but no deals materialized.
They also did not add to the offensive line, the one position many observers considered their most immediate need.
That likely showed two things: They like their line better than the perception the group may have from the outside. And there weren’t many offensive linemen realistically available who would have been an upgrade.
As detailed by the Athletic, only one offensive lineman was traded – New Orleans dealing Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-round pick who began his career at tackle but is playing guard and can be a free agent at the end of the season, to the Chargers for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Some might have viewed receiver as a position that didn’t necessarily need help given that the Seahawks rank fourth in the NFL in passing yards and have the leading receiver in the league in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is on pace for the first 2,000-yard season in league history.
The Seahawks know opponents will continue to try to figure out ways to rein in JSN and adding Shaheed – regarded as a deep threat who can take the top off a defense – will only make that harder.
The Seahawks are also dealing with some injury issues at receiver with Cooper Kupp missing Sunday’s 38-14 win over Washington with heel and hamstring issues and Jake Bobo and Dareke Young also sidelined.
That left the Seahawks with just four receivers Sunday – Smith-Njigba and rookie Tory Horton along with practice-squad call-ups Cody White and Ricky White III.
The Seahawks know what they are getting in the 6-foot, 180-pound Rasheed, who is in his fourth NFL season.
First-year Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak spent last season with the Saints and Shaheed was flourishing before suffering a knee injury six games in with 20 catches for 349 yards, an average of 17.4 per reception.
Players acquired via in-season trades sometimes struggle to adapt quickly to a new team, but that shouldn’t be an issue for Shaheed.
The Seahawks only have to pay Rasheed roughly $2.1 million for the rest of the season.
While he can be a free agent at the end of the year, the Seahawks could pick up a compensatory pick in 2027 if he signs elsewhere, meaning they could ultimately be up only one midround pick to get a receiver to bolster their offense for a season that with each week seems to grow in possibility.
Said ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former NFL safety, on air shortly after the trade was made: “Their GM (general manager) John Schneider is all in right now.”
Riddick called Shaheed a classic “vertical, field stretcher” and said his addition means “this offense right now is able to deal with any team in the NFL in terms of pure firepower.”
Riddick said the Seahawks felt even more compelled to add a player such as Shaheed with the way that Sam Darnold has evolved into a legitimate MVP candidate in leading the Seahawks to a 6-2 record.
“Sam is the driving force behind why you feel comfortable adding pieces to this offense,” he said.
Shaheed was a first-team All-Pro pick as a punt returner in 2023 and figures to be used in return roles.
Kickoff returners are more valuable than ever thanks to rule changes over the last two years that have greatly increased the number of returns.
So in essence, the Seahawks didn’t have to give up a lot for a player much of the coaching staff already knows and who by all accounts should fit seamlessly in the locker room, who gives the Seahawks some insurance should the injuries persist, but in the best-case scenario gives them an even more dynamic receiving corps than it already has.
“This one makes a lot of sense for Seattle,” Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said on air shortly after the deadline passed. “They got a lot better today and they really have established themselves as one of the teams to beat in the NFL.”
If adding Shaheed was viewed as a no-brainer, some might have been surprised that the Seahawks held on to Woolen, given all the outside noise that has surrounded him the last few months.
Woolen can be a free agent at the end of the season and it seems a given that he won’t be back in 2026. While Woolen has essentially lost his job as one of the team’s two starting cornerbacks, injuries mean he has continued to play as if he is a starter.
That happened again Sunday when Josh Jobe was sidelined early in the second quarter with a concussion. Woolen came on and played well.
Once the Seahawks get to a point where Jobe and Devon Witherspoon are available, Woolen would continue to play as the third cornerback, a valuable role.
Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network indicated the Seahawks received interest in Woolen but decided that his value didn’t make it worth it to give him up for future picks.
Not doing so means the Seahawks have just four picks for the 2026 draft – in Rounds 1, 2, 3 and 6.
Garafolo said the Seahawks decided, “We’re not going to be trading away a good cornerback when we’re trying to win this (division), get into the postseason, make a run here.”
Coach Mike Macdonald made it clear last week he likes where things are heading with this team, noting the contrast between the midway point of the 2024 season and this year.
“I think we’re a team with an identity,” Macdonald said last Tuesday after the Seahawks returned from their bye. “We know who we are. We just have to go be that team every day, and when we do that, we give ourselves a really good chance to win.”
A year ago at this time, Macdonald said, “I think we were looking. I think we were searching for it.”
Sunday’s surprisingly dominant win – at least, to those on the outside – only reinforced that the Seahawks have a good thing going.
It was, ultimately, a year to add without disrupting, while letting the future take care of itself.