Heading into the 2026 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are far from complete. With an aging core on defense and limited weapons on offense, general manager Omar Khan has plenty of work to do in free agency and the draft. With an estimated $65 million to work with, he should have the flexibility to add a few impact players.
Adding a wide receiver should be near the top of the to-do list. Whoever the quarterback is in 2026, they'll need more than just DK Metcalf to be successful.
Current Seattle Seahawks wideout Rashid Shaheed is set to enter free agency as one of the top pass-catching options available. But some of his recent performances suggest the Steelers should let someone else pay him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should stay away from Rashid Shaheed in free agency
Shaheed is an electric wideout. His game-changing speed forces defenses to account for him on every play. Understandably, he's expected to be highly sought after this offseason. But his production at the tail end of the regular season suggests he might not be worth the major contract he's expected to sign.
According to Spotrac, Shaheed's estimated market value is around $15.5 million per year. On a three-year deal, the 27-year-old would rake in $46.6 million. The contract would be in line with other secondary receiver deals, but it could end up looking like a massive overpay if the wideout fails to produce.
His showing in Week 18 gave the Steelers a glimpse of the disappointment they could endure if they brought him to Pittsburgh. Shaheed was nearly irrelevant in the Seahawks' season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, catching just one pass for a gain of two yards.
If this were a one-time blip in an otherwise solid season, it'd be easy to overlook. But this has been an alarmingly common occurrence. Since being traded to the Seahawks in early November, Shaheed has logged two or fewer receptions in seven of nine games. Sure, he makes an impact as a return man on special teams, but the disappearing act he keeps pulling on offense is cause for concern.
Especially considering that his skill set overlaps with Metcalf's in a few ways, it might be wise for the Steelers to look elsewhere in free agency. The options may be limited, but they'd likely regret dealing out that much money to a receiver who may not give them much of a return on their investment.