Catching passes from Spencer Rattler this season, new Seattle Seahawks receiver Rashid Shaheed has seen his career 16.5 yards-per-catch average nosedive down to 11.3. OK, maybe it’s not fair to blame the entire decline on Rattler, but the man who threw to Shaheed for the two previous seasons in New Orleans, Derek Carr, offered some encouraging advice to Seattle’s Sam Darnold.
“Just launch it and he will go get it.”
That endorsement coming from a veteran like Carr should allay any fears in Seattle that the 27-year-old speedster has lost a step this year. And it's a prescription that Seattle’s Klint Kubiak probably already knew. The Hawks’ offensive coordinator coached Shaheed last season, when Carr was launching them and his deep threat was indeed catching them.
Both offensive stars were part of the massive injury bug that derailed the Saints’ season in 2024 and set the club off on a new course this year.
New weapon Rashid Shaheed should give Seahawks QB1 Sam Darnold exactly what he needs
When he was coming out of USC, the knock on Sam Darnold was that he could get sloppy with the ball. His mechanics needed work. He threw too many picks and fumbled too often. But no one ever questioned his ability to fling it all over the field.
In his two college seasons, Darnold averaged an exceptional 8.5 yards per attempt and more than 13 yards per completion. College passing stats can be elevated, but those are fantastic numbers regardless of where they are achieved.
Early in his pro career, Darnold showed little of that downfield magic. Part of it was due to the talent he played with. Part of it was due to his own inconsistencies. But as he gained experience and got the chance to work with top-level offensive coaches, that deep-ball touch returned. Between 2022 and 2024, despite playing on three teams in three different systems, he began to see those numbers rise.
That was clear last season in Minnesota. His three top receivers – Justin Jefferson, Jordan Allson, and Jalen Nailor - all had yards-per-catch averages over 13.9. Jefferson and Nailor were just under 15.
This year, Darnold has thrown numerous deep balls to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was not known as a deep threat in his first two seasons. This year, it seems that each week features at least one perfectly thrown deep shot to JSN.
Now, if Derek Carr can be believed, Darnold will have another place to look when he wants to take a shot. Having a second dangerous deep threat on the field doesn’t merely double an offense’s explosiveness. The advantage becomes exponential.
It puts enormous stress on a safety if he has to watch a player like Smith-Njigba on one side of the field and Shaheed on the other. Their mere presence will force some defenses into two-deep shells which instantly makes Kubiak’s running schemes more deadly.
One good lead block from Robbie Ouzts on a linebacker, and Kenneth Walker III is off to the races. There will be no safety charging to seal the hole.
It is not uncommon for NFL offenses to throw deep, even if they realize it is a low percentage play, specifically because it will force the defense to adjust accordingly. But now, Seattle should have two players who actually can turn those low percentage throws into high percentage chunk plays.
We have already seen how JSN can haul in those deep shots. Now, Sam Darnold will have a second target for those downfield launches. Rashid Shaheed comes with the highest possible recommendation from the man who ought to know best – Derek Carr.