The New England Patriots won their Week 6 game despite a ton of officiating controversy, extending their win streak to three games and taking over the top spot in the AFC East. Sunday's win pushed the New Orleans Saints further down a hole after six weeks, sitting at 1-5 with no light at the end of the tunnel.
The Saints will likely be sellers at the trade deadline, which could create an opportunity for the Patriots ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.
One Saint whom the Patriots could potentially target is talented wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. The 27-year-old is on an expiring contract after signing a one-year deal with the Saints over the summer. NFL insider Ian Rapoport already reported over the weekend that the fourth-year player is expected to be the subject of trade calls, meaning New England's front office must consider making a call soon.
Saints WR Rashid Shaheed Could Be Ideal Patriots Trade Target
The Patriots faced Shaheed on Sunday, who finished the game with four catches and 28 yards, while adding 21 yards on two punt returns. The Patriots' defense obviously did a great job limiting the speedster's impact, but that doesn't mean that Shaheed couldn't help take the Drake Maye-led offense to the next level.
The Patriots' offense has looked much improved this season, currently ranking as the 11th-best unit in the NFL in terms of points. The passing game has been working very well as the Patriots rank sixth in total passing yards and fourth in net yards gained per pass attempt. Stefon Diggs has emerged as a reliable WR1, and Kayshon Boutte has been emerging into a quality option, putting up 301 yards and three touchdowns in six games.
The depth and quality behind those two, however, leave plenty to be desired, which is where Shaheed comes in.
Before the Week 6 clash against the Saints, Patriots special teams coach Jeremy Springer called Shaheed "the fastest guy in the NFL," per Boston Herald's Doug Kyed. Whether or not that is factually true is unclear, but it's clear that he is up there, and it also suggests that the Patriots coaching staff likes the formerly undrafted Pro Bowler. Shaheed could be the deep threat and elite WR3 the Patriots currently lack, while being an upgrade in the return game.
Another high-end threat in the passing game could elevate the Patriots' offense to the next level. Whether executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf feels strongly enough about that to aggressively pursue a trade remains to be seen.