Steelers Rumored to be Interested in WR Rashid Shaheed

Steelers News

The Pittsburgh Steelers reached out to the New Orleans Saints during their Week 5 bye to gauge interest in wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, according to a source who spoke with Andrew Fillipponi of 937 The Fan. The inquiry comes as Pittsburgh looks to add receiving depth with Calvin Austin III’s availability uncertain for Week 6.

The Steelers used their bye week to explore roster options after Austin left the Week 4 game against Minnesota with a shoulder injury. Austin was taken to a hospital in Dublin, Ireland, during the Vikings game for evaluation. X-rays on his shoulder came back negative, but his status for the Cleveland Browns game remains unclear. Austin told reporters he is taking his recovery day by day and does not know if injured reserve is a possibility.

Shaheed is entering the final year of his contract with New Orleans. He signed a one-year, $5.2 million extension in July 2024, which runs through the 2025 season. The 27-year-old will become a free agent in March 2026, giving Pittsburgh a window to acquire him before he potentially leaves New Orleans without compensation.

The undrafted receiver out of Weber State has become one of the Saints’ most explosive weapons. Shaheed caught four passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans’ 26-14 win over the New York Giants in Week 5. His 87-yard touchdown reception from Spencer Rattler was clocked at 21.72 miles per hour, the fastest speed recorded on an offensive touchdown this season, according to Next Gen Stats.

Pittsburgh currently pairs DK Metcalf with Austin in its top receiver rotation. Metcalf joined the Steelers via trade from Seattle in March and signed a five-year extension worth $150 million. Behind them, the depth chart thins considerably. Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, and second-year receiver Roman Wilson have combined for just two receptions through four games.

The Steelers host Cleveland at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, October 12 at 1 p.m. on CBS. Pittsburgh enters the game with a 3-1 record after defeating the Vikings 24-21 in Dublin before their bye. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has completed 66 percent of his passes for 787 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions through four games.

New Orleans faces the New England Patriots at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, October 12 at 12 p.m. The Saints are 1-4 after starting the season with four straight losses, then defeating the Giants. Shaheed serves as the team’s number two receiver behind Chris Olave and also handles punt return duties.

Whether New Orleans would consider trading Shaheed before the November 4 deadline remains unknown; the Saints made no public comment on Pittsburgh’s inquiry.