Saints Use Exclusive Rights Free Agent Tag for Rashid Shaheed

In case there was any doubt, Rashid Shaheed will officially be in a Saints uniform for 2024. He was tendered by the Saints earlier this week, a source confirmed to Saints News Network. The tag on his one-year tender comes to $985,000.

Shaheed's status as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent certainly confused some, but it was a lot more straightforward. As a ERFA, the player is not under contract and has not reached three years of experience. If the team makes said player an offer at the three-year veteran minimum active salary applicable to the player, then they have a ‘take it or leave it’ option. There is no negotiation with other teams unless the original team does not make a tender offer prior to the deadline.

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Juwan Johnson was a ERFA after the 2021 season and then was set to become a Restricted Free Agent following 2022's campaign. Rather than tender him, the Saints actually signed him to a two-year contract worth $12 million. This could be a similar path for Shaheed to play out his ERFA deal and then he could get a bigger bump versus a tender tag.

Last season, Shaheed was voted into the Pro Bowl and was a First-Team All-Pro for his return duties. However, he put up strong receiver numbers, finishing with 719 yards on 46 catches with 5 touchdowns. He looks to be a bigger part of the Saints offense under Klint Kubiak this year.