Raiders own key advantage to signing impactful free agent WR that could completely change their potential on offense
Las Vegas may add a Super Bowl champion to their offense this offseason.
The future of the Las Vegas Raiders has placed stars in the eyes of many fans. Fernando Mendoza, the national champion quarterback for Indiana, could join them in the 2026 NFL Draft. They just hired Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their new head coach, one of the top candidates of the cycle.
Accordingly, what is next for the roster? Can they make impactful decisions for the offense when it comes to offensive line improvements or skill positions? One choice for Kubiak may be simple at wide receiver.
Raiders’ hire of Klint Kubiak may help them sign WR Rashid Shaheed
Kubiak was a massive fan of Shaheed’s game while he was the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator before joining Seattle’s staff. He went out of his way to push the Seahawks to make an attempt at trading him at the deadline, and it worked out.
Shaheed showed flashes with the Saints, even prior to Kubiak’s arrival. That being said, his role and impact seemed to grow under Kubiak in 2024, and there was a focus on getting him the football down the field. Some of Derek Carr’s best throws as a Saint came on deep shots to the speedster wideout.
The dynamic weapon has always been a bit of a “boom or bust” sort of player, but don’t get it twisted. He’s not simply a gadget sort of target for an offense. Shaheed is also arguably the best special teams returner in football and adds value out of the backfield on offense when used correctly.
I discussed the pros and cons of the Raiders signing Shaheed during free agency with Justin Churchill, who covers the Raiders at A to Z Sports. He made it clear that there was both exciting potential and looming fallout if they made a move like this one with Kubiak joining as their head coach.
Why the signing would make sense for Vegas
“The Raiders recorded nearly 1,000 fewer air yards than the Seahawks last season, according to Sports Info Solutions, mostly because they rarely attempted deep passes due to a lack of suitable personnel. Shaheed, one of the league’s premier serious threats, offers elite speed.
Adding another receiver with similar speed—joining 4.3-second 40-yard dash players Dont’e Thornton and Tre Tucker—would further stress opposing defenses. Not to mention, Sam Darnold’s EPA with Shaheed on the field last season was 0.22. He’s proven that he makes offenses better.”
“In year one, I won’t put any huge expectations on Shaheed. He’s very good and one of the most underrated players in the game. However, if he were to join the Raiders in 2026, he would have a rookie quarterback, a semi-good-to-bad offensive line, depending on what they do to fix it, and a rookie head coach.
The first year under Kubiak for Vegas won’t be all sunshine and rainbows, which could mean that Shaheed is on a team with an average offense.
I could see him having a 500-600 yard year with 4-5 touchdowns, which to me would be huge in Year 1. If they were to sign him and were to get him on a multiyear deal, I think Year 2 under Kubiak in Vegas could be huge, like a career-high 800-yard season. Not to mention, he’ll be sharing targets with Brock Bowers in an offense that will run the ball a ton with Ashton Jeanty.” — Justin Churchill
The future of Tre Tucker with the Raiders
“If the Raiders do end up signing Shaheed to a multi-year deal, then you can go ahead and cash in your bet that Tucker won’t be back after his contract is up. While he’s become a much better player than most anticipated, all things considered, it’s important to note that he was drafted four regimes ago.
For this reason, there’s certainly reason to believe that Kubiak will want his guys in his system. Nevertheless, on the right team, Tucker can make his money elsewhere, as his game has really evolved over the years.” — Justin Churchill
Only time will tell if Kubia attempts to use this connection to Shaheed as an advantage for Shaheed in free agency. If so, the Raiders already have an upper hand at improving the upside of both their offensive and special teams units in 2026 and beyond.
Las Vegas Raiders News
Klint Kubiak has already won over the Raiders fan base in a unique way and he hasn’t even started the job yet
The Raiders are excited to have Kubiak, and he’s excited to be a Raider.
