Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Asked how he’d go about the next few days, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed said he wouldn’t dwell on Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, adding he and his teammates would be ready to work. But at his locker, Shaheed had to be politely corrected about what the reporter meant. How would he go about handling Tuesday’s trade deadline? “It’s not really up to me,” Shaheed said. “That’s not my decision. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have no idea. It’s kind of up in the air.” Before Shaheed answered, a few of his teammates chuckled nearby. The wide receiver would be forgiven if he’s not used to his name being in rumors. But that’s changed of late. Shaheed has been one of the Saints’ most frequently mentioned trade candidates, arguably even more so than teammate Chris Olave. Pro Football Talk reported Saturday that the 27-year-old is “seen as widely available” around the league, and the Saints reportedly are asking for at least a third-round pick in return. Shaheed, too, is in the final year of his contract, and the Saints are rebuilding at 1-8. “I just take it as respect from other teams,” Shaheed said of the interest. “They feel that way that way about me, and that’s a good thing. But you know, I’m here and that’s where I want to be.” Shaheed’s future, though, with the Saints is in question in part because of his contract uncertainty. While Olave confirmed that the Saints had been discussing a contract extension since the beginning of the season, Shaheed said his own negotiations with the franchise have been quiet. The same agent represents Olave and Shaheed, but Olave’s deal isn’t up until after the 2026 season, following the Saints’ decision to pick up the former first-rounder’s fifth-year option this past offseason. “We haven’t really talked about it much since the season has started,” Shaheed said. “I can’t really say much about it.” It remains to be seen if any team will meet the Saints’ reported asking price, or if New Orleans would accept less than that when push comes to shove. The Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers have been among the teams reportedly looking for help at receiver. Shaheed has 44 catches for 499 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season. If Sunday was his final game for the Saints, he finished the day by leading the team in receptions (five) and receiving yards (68). But the performance wasn't splashy enough to arguably boost his trade value. The Saints only have five picks as of now in next year’s draft after making several trades earlier this season. The team sent its fourth and 2027 seventh rounder to the Denver Broncos in exchange for wideout Devaughn Vele. And in March, they sent a seventh-round selection to the New England Patriots for defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. New Orleans could also gain a potential fourth-round compensatory pick ahead of next year’s draft to account for Paulson Adebo’s departure to the New York Giants. Shaheed and Olave have also not been the only Saints linked in rumors. Cornerback Alontae Taylor is in the final year of his deal and declined to comment Sunday about whether he and the Saints have had conversations about an extension. The Saints, like with Shaheed, are reportedly seeking at least a third-round pick for Taylor. “Man, I’m a God-fearing man; I feel like that’s all up to God,” Taylor said. “I love being here. I enjoy being in this locker room, with this team and this squad. If I can stay here and be here, that’s where I want to be. But I just want to be wherever God wants me to be.” As many as a dozen Saints have been floated in trade rumors over the last few weeks, including veterans like running back Alvin Kamara and linebacker Demario Davis. Kamara threatened to retire if he was traded, while Davis recently said that he doesn’t worry about matters out of his control. “I’ve had a blessed career here,” said Davis, who has been with the Saints since 2018. “It’s been everything that I can ask for and imagine in terms of a team to be on. I’ve been able to help the team, and this team has helped my career. This city means so much to me and my family. And I think when you’re blessed, and you understand, you’re grateful for every moment that you have. “But at the end of the day, it is a business. And you have to be aware of that.”
