Rams rival re-signs star and frustrates fans feverish hopes for another upgrade

As marvelous as the Los Angeles Rams have handled their offseason personnel actions so far, is there any move that might have made it better? General manager Les Snead appeared to set up the team for another run at the Super Bowl.

Still, it hasn't been a perfect offseason. Perfection is so unattainable. But one such player who would have sent fans into a week-long celebration might have been wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed. Adding him may have made LA's free agency shopping spree perfect.

Well, that won't happen. As the Seattle Seahawks patiently observed multiple key contributors to their Super Bowl-winning season sign elsewhere, they did keep their wits about them long enough to ensure Shaheed would not be going anywhere. He will ink a three-year deal worth up to $51 million.

As much as Shaheed would have upgraded Los Angeles on special teams, Snead would never cut a check for that much for a guy to return punts and kickoffs.

Rams fans will face a new Seahawks team in 2026

As the LA Rams work tirelessly to upgrade their roster for what will be scintillating rematches with the Seahawks in 2026, they will not face the same team. Per Spotrac.com, the Seahawks have managed to extend just two players, cornerback Josh Jobe and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.

Four players have already signed elsewhere:

Edge rusher Boye Mafe will sign with the Bengals,
Running back Kenneth Walker will sign with the Chiefs
Safety Cobe Bryant will sign with the Bears
Cornerback Riq Woolen will sign with the Eagles

That leaves nine players up for grabs. And so far, the Seahawks have not signed any veteran free agents to fill their vacancies.

Every team transforms from one season to the next. And it may be that the Seahawks had already accepted that their strategy would be best served by accepting attrition when and where it happened, and focus on a rebuild on the fly by emphasizing the NFL draft for new blood.

It's a curious move by Seattle. Their window is now. Unless they are opting to sign more reasonably priced free agents, the loss of four contributors from their Super Bowl-winning team, including the MVP, is bound to dilute their talent and limit their chances for a repeat.

Mix in their first-place team's schedule, and the odds begin to stack against them.

But they did manage to retain the one player who may have made a huge impact in the Horns. And that frustrates fans hopes for a perfect free agency haul.

Still, that merely creates another opportunity for the ever-resourceful Les Snead to manufacture his own elite return specialist. And that is worth waiting for.

As always, thanks for reading.