You can only keep one (poll)

[nwHawk]

Shaheed impacts field position which directly impacts scoring opportunities.

K9 was so-so for much of his contract and then turned in a fantastic playoff run.

Both may be gone, but I’d like to keep Shaheed.

 

[chris98251]

Remember Leon Washington was the last real guy that was a return guy, Harvin was a nice flash, but being a WR they have to account for him on offense, a RB they don't need to change a defense as much.

 

[Seahawker]

I would pick Josh Jones over those two.
Shaheed & K9 are replaceable, in fact far easier to change out than a capable swing tackle or backup LT who can fill in without missing much of a beat. If Cross goes down for longer than a few games without a guy like JJ to fill in you can kiss HFA and any SB hopes goodbye. Sam won't be able to operate under those conditions.
The other factor is money and I mean splurge vs $ well spent, it's a moneyball thing.

Let's just say I feel pretty good with John replacing a WR or RB, but LT's & RT's protecting the edges will make or break an offense & QB.

 

[Bobblehead]

I think HOrton can carry out return duties if he ever gets healthy.. not as well as Shaheed, but.. maybe Shaheed light.

 

[chris98251]

Horton looks good on paper, but he has been hurt two years in a row, red flag to me.

 

[Bobblehead]

Horton looks good on paper, but he has been hurt two years in a row, red flag to me.

Well, one thing going for him.. he's on the team.

 

[chris98251]

So was Micheal, Procise, Harvin...........................

 

[sutz]

Horton looks good on paper, but he has been hurt two years in a row, red flag to me.

He's under contract. Might as well use him until somebody else wins his job.

 

[chris98251]

He's under contract. Might as well use him until somebody else wins his job.

He has to be available to use, having under contract and the roster isn't on the field, that just means you have to find someone to use via FA in the mean time. I hope he is, when he was able to play he looked like he could be everything we could hope for, but so did Procise in one game in New England.

 

[Grahamhawker]

I posted something similar in the "Running it back" thread, but I think recency-bias and emotional rationalization over the punt return vs the Rams are feeding some over-valuing of Shaheed.

His return stats on the year were good, but not exceptional. With well-coached and high-performing STs as a whole (which Hawks seem to have), I don't think you need to over-pay Shaheed when there are plenty of rookie-contract returners producing similar results.
2025 punt return stats
2025 ko return stats


I'd love to have him back too, but the only way he's worth a big contract is if the team is certain they're going to use him much more consistently as a WR.

 

[CalgaryFan05]

Thought about it a bit more. Pinged Gemini on the matter, as I'm prone to doing.

Part of my problem with last season was when KK shit the bed in that stretch when he gave up on the run. It was depressing.

I've come to the position that we should let Shaheed walk and keep K9. I think we get a compensatory pick for Shaheed. Use that and draft a track star. Someone who can run a 4.3 - tell the kid to; run go routes to clear out the safeties, and return kicks. Another poster said that Shaheed benefited as much from blocking on ST as much as speed. If we can replicate that then a draft-based speedster would fill the bill nicely.

Then go and get a bruiser to rotate reps with K9 to keep a 1-2 punch until Charbs gets back.

If a speedster can handle the safeties, and we have a credible running threat - this opens up the intermediate passing game NICELY, and we already have the personnel for that, despite whether you think we're paying Kupp too much. Also takes the pressure off Darnold to hold the ball long enough for long developing plays, which he sucks at.

Too funny, as a final note when I was rapping with Gemini on the issue, one of my comments was that Shaheed is nice, but he's no Hester. The reply was: "Hester was an alien who could make 6 guys miss in a phone booth." LMAO.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

he said: "I'm here to stay. I'm excited. We'll figure something out after the season ends".

New arrivals always say that sort of thing. It doesn't mean anything.

 

[Appyhawk]

I said Seattle was not great, I didn’t say Seattle was bad.

But, Seattle’s special teams became tops in the NFL because of Shaheed. It was not before.

Our ST were miserable pre-season. At the time I even questioned our choice for ST coach!

 

[Runscott]

New arrivals always say that sort of thing. It doesn't mean anything.

Most of the time, but he also sounded very positive during the playoffs. I just thought he handled the questions a lot better than some, and I was optimistic.

 

[Grahamhawker]

Our ST were miserable pre-season. At the time I even questioned our choice for ST coach!

And Horton had a higher pr average than Shaheed, and Dareke Young had a higher kor average than Shaheed, so ...

 

[glenwo2]

The answer to the poll should've included the selection :

- We will lose both so who cares?

 

[AnimeAmore]

Why wasn't there an option to keep neither? I wouldn't keep either one on a FA contract.

 

[HawkinNY]

I think signing shaheed will take away from Horton.