The Houston Texans got their first win in Week 4, downing the Tennessee Titans. Still, questions remain whether quarterback C.J. Stroud’s early struggles were actually the result of the Texans not doing enough in the offseason, and if a trade is necessary.
Fittingly for the Texans, the New Orleans Saints are heading towards the top of the 2026 draft, and they could soon be forced into difficult decisions on some of their more seasoned players.
A trade for one in particular, wide receiver Rashid Shaeed, could be of interest to the Texans.
Texans Pushed to Trade for Saints WR Rashid Shaeed
Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano suggested the Texans trade for Shaheed, noting their lack of explosiveness. 2024 Pro Bowler Nico Collins is the lone proven threat entering Week 5.
Stroud has faced the 11th-lowest pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference. Still, he has been sacked the seventh-most times.
A greater deep threat could soften up coverage underneath and against the run.
Texans get:
Rashid Shaeed
Saints get:
Conditional 2026 fifth-round draft pick
“If Houston is going to get its offense going, adding a receiver to complement Nico Collins would certainly help. The Texans rank 22nd in yards per play (5.1) and are tied for 17th in net yards per pass attempt (5.8) while sitting 26th in dropback EPA (-0.040),” Manzano and Verderame wrote on October 1.
“Shaheed has 18 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown through four weeks, and would provide a significant upgrade over Xavier Hutchinson, who has nine receptions and 92 yards despite playing 64% of the snaps.”
Rashid Shaheed Would Add Proven Deep Threat to Texans
Shaheed was an undrafted free agent out of Weber St., and he earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors as a punt returner in 2023. He averages 15.4 yards per reception in his career.
No Texan with at least 100 receptions over their first four seasons has done that, per Stathead.
That is better than a list including Collins, Will Fuller, DeAndre Hopkins, and even Hall of Famer Andre Johnson. Whether or not the Texans need to trade for Shaheed is subjective, but he could have a significant impact on Stroud and the offense going forward.
The trade deadline is on November 4. That is heading into Week 10, when the Texans will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a potential revenge game.
Texans WR Room Remains Incomplete
Houston utilized every avenue to upgrade the wide receiver room for Stroud and around Collins. The Texans acquired Christian Kirk in a trade with the Jaguars and signed Braxton Berrios in free agency from the Miami Dolphins.
The Texans also drafted a pair of college teammates in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, but the former is a bigger-bodied playmaker, while the latter has been more impactful on special teams.
Houston is also still missing Tank Dell, a deep threat and favorite target of Stroud’s.