Saints Use Exclusive Rights Free Agent Tag for Rashid Shaheed

Rashid Shaheed was tagged by the Saints earlier this week under the Exclusive Rights Free Agent tender.

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.