The Los Angeles Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs in convincing fashion in the Wild Card Round. For all intents and purposes, their offseason began almost a month ago.
They have since undergone most of their coaching cycle, and they've already extended one of their premier free agents in defensive tackle Teair Tart. The pain has largely subsided, but they will be forced to watch the New England Patriots compete for a Super Bowl this weekend.
Yet there remains a reason for intrigue among Chargers fans. Rashid Shaheed, whom the Seattle Seahawks acquired at the deadline as an extra receiving threat, is a pending free agent. A strong performance from him in the biggest game of the season could put him out of the Seahawks' reach and toss him right into Los Angeles's lap.
Rashid Shaheed could prove to be the ideal addition for the Chargers offense
The successes of Seattle's offense have been well-chronicled. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has coaxed career seasons out of Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Although their run game has been sub-par for most of the season, Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet have been effective as well.
Therefore, their addition of Shaheed at the trade deadline for a pair of mid-round draft picks was a luxury addition.
Shaheed has been excellent so far with the Seahawks as both an option in the passing game and a special teams weapon. Through nine games, he amassed 188 yards and 15 receptions on 26 targets while earrning 628 total yards on kick and punt returns.
He's blazing fast, and he's been the additional weapon Seattle needed to diversify their offense.
According to Spotrac, he's expected to earn a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency this offseason.
It's not as though the Seahawks can't afford this. They have Darnold on a moderate contract through 2027, allowing them optionality across their roster from a financial standpoint. They have the fifth-most cap space this offseason. But they also have larger-picture issues to worry about.
They will need to decide whether to extend Smith-Njigba or pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. Picking up his option would expand his annual salary by roughly $20 million.
If Shaheed prices himself out of Seattle, he could be the Chargers' prime target this offseason. Not only would he add an extra dimension to their passing game under Mike McDaniel, but he would immediately solve their punt and kick return woes.
Derius Davis averaged seven yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kick return in 2025. Shaheed averaged 14.7 and 29.8, respectively.
It would be a pricey pick-up, but Los Angeles certainly has the financial flexibility to make it work even if they bring back both Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack. Chargers fans, therefore, have an excellent reason to watch the Super Bowl closely.