The New Orleans Saints appear to have finally gotten the message that they should be looking towards future seasons' success more than this one.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the New Orleans Saints are trading wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks, reuniting him with the Saints' former offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, and for a fourth and fifth rounder, per Rapoport.

With the Seahawks now dominating the NFC West at the top with a 6-2 record, it makes sense for them to make some of a luxury spend and acquire a complementary target alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who continues to lead the target share in Seattle.

The Seahawks are contending under new quarterback Sam Darnold, and this is a great opportunity for Shaheed to become a weapon in an offense with his former coordinator from last season, making this a great fit for the former New Orleans pass catcher.

Shaheed was the top of the list of trade targets as rumors have started to swirl the last few weeks, but it wasn’t clear whether the Saints would stand pat, stubbornly so, ahead of the trade deadline.

With a 1-8 record staring them in the face as New Orleans swirls around the bottom of the NFC South standings, it was time to face the music. Thankfully, the Saints appear to have done so.

Shaheed is having a career year already, despite all the dysfunction on offense in New Orleans and the changing hand at quarterback, recording 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns.

It made sense why he was at the top of the trade targets to poach from the Saints, and the team was able to send him to a place he could contend.

Now, there was no illusions that New Orleans would somehow be buyers at this deadline, but it wasn’t entirely clear that they would really sell. This may be the first of a few dominos to fall here as the 4 pm deadline dictates the rest of the day.

For now, Tyler Shough is down one pass catching option, but the team is up one smart move amidst a dysfunctional season, depending on what the haul is in return for Shaheed.

The team will miss his speed, but there’s just no sense in holding on to prime skill players who could return capital for the future – and that’s where this team and head coach Kellen Moore should be turning their focus towards.