The New York Giants are looking for answers at wide receiver, and the front office seems ready to explore every possible avenue before next month’s NFL trade deadline. With injuries piling up and a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart starting to find his rhythm, general manager Joe Schoen is expected to be active in the market.
Big names like Chris Olave and Jakobi Meyers might grab headlines, but one intriguing name flying under the radar is New Orleans Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed.
A hidden gem with rare reliability
Shaheed’s story is one of quiet consistency and untapped potential. Signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2022, he has developed into a legitimate NFL weapon. The 27-year-old has built a strong reputation for reliability, recording an impressive 1.6 percent drop rate over 181 career targets — a stat that separates him from most of his peers.
His breakout came in 2023 when he caught 46 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns, flashing big-play ability and dependable hands. For a Giants offense that has lacked explosive production downfield, that kind of profile would fit like a missing puzzle piece.
The perfect fit in a developing offense
What makes Shaheed particularly appealing for the Giants is his versatility. He played 62.3 percent of his snaps out wide and 37.2 percent in the slot last season, moving fluidly across formations to exploit matchups. New Orleans used him at every level of the field — 14 short targets, 13 intermediate, and five that traveled over 20 yards through the air — and he produced efficiently in all three zones.
That adaptability could make him a dream addition for Dart, who thrives when he has quick reads and receivers who can separate vertically. Shaheed’s speed would stretch defenses and open up the short game for players like Wan’Dale Robinson and Theo Johnson underneath.
Low cost, high upside
Financially, the deal makes even more sense. Shaheed is playing on an expiring contract with a $4.45 million cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Saints, sitting in a transition year, may be open to moving him before the deadline to collect assets rather than lose him for nothing.
For the Giants, the cost could be minimal — perhaps a late-round pick in the fifth or sixth round. It’s the kind of calculated move that could pay dividends without mortgaging future draft capital.
A deal worth making
If the Giants truly believe in Dart as their long-term quarterback, they need to surround him with the right mix of playmakers. Rashid Shaheed isn’t a household name, but he’s the type of underappreciated player who can change how a team operates offensively.
Like a spark plug in an aging engine, Shaheed’s presence could help the Giants’ offense fire at full strength again — and this might be the perfect time to make it happen.