All Signs Point to Raiders Targeting Rashid Shaheed Amid Coaching News

The Las Vegas Raiders are wasting no time piecing together Klint Kubiak’s coaching staff.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders have hired Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko as offensive coordinator.

Janocko, a close friend of Kubiak, has nothing but praise for him. “He’s somebody that you can’t say enough good things about the actual person, the way he cares for others and the way he wants people around him to succeed. He takes zero credit for anything. In fact, it’s something that honestly just annoys me. The guy’s putting together this masterful game plan every single week and he gives all the credit to everybody else.”

Part of Kubiak’s game plan with the Seahawks last season revolved around incorporating wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, whom the team traded for during the NFL trade deadline.

Shaheed, who’s slated to be a free agent this offseason, now has not one, but two coaches in Las Vegas. With $91.5 million in cap space according to OverTheCap.com, he’s someone the Raiders are expected to have interest in this offseason.

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All Signs Point to the Raiders Targeting Rashid Shaheed

ESPN’s Ryan McFadden pinned Shaheed as an option the Raiders will likely have interest in before the news that the team hired Janocko as the team’s OC.

“They will also need to add a top wide receiver who can take the attention away from Bowers. The Indianapolis Colts’ Alec Pierce and the Seahawks’ Rashid Shaheed are two wide receivers the Raiders could target in free agency. Shaheed has familiarity with Kubiak’s system and can provide additional value as a returner.”

Pierce would be an intriguing option for Las Vegas. However, Shaheed would not only be cheaper, but he is also an excellent return man, as McFadden pointed out.

Shaheed was arguably the top return man in 2025, averaging 29.9 yards on kick returns and 16.2 yards on punt returns and two touchdowns.

He didn’t have the volume on offense behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but with the Raiders, he’ll have an opportunity to excel in Las Vegas.

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Seahawks Teammates Comment on Shaheed’s Instant Impact

Even though Shaheed barely joined the Seahawks after being traded from New Orleans in early November, the guys in Seattle had some high praise for him the following month.

“Sheed returning that punt was incredible,” defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “You just felt the momentum swing. It was amazing. I kept seeing him in the locker room, telling him that he brought us back into that game. He’s been a big key bringing him on this team, and he’s been a big factor in helping us win some games.”

“He’s a playmaker, he makes big plays and that was another big play,” Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker said. “We love having him here.”

“We love Shaheed,” safety Julian Love said.

“I’m so glad that guy’s on our team now,” veteran offensive lineman Josh Jones said. “He’s been doing nothing but making plays, coming in, being himself, working hard, adapting to the coaching. You can see he’s already one of us. He’s having a hell of a year. We’re super excited to have him. He’s going to keep doing this.”

Shaheed, indeed, kept doing that, with his electric kick return touchdown to start the divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

After seeing the type of praise he got from his teammates after just one month with the team, how could you not want the Raiders to go after Shaheed during free agency?

Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders. More about Isaac Zuniga