Recently-Released Chiefs Wide Receiver Visiting With AFC Rival Bills as Decision Looms
May 14, 2024
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling could sign with the team that his Kansas City Chiefs have tormented for the last few seasons.
On Monday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the former Chiefs wide receiver was in Buffalo meeting with the Bills. This comes after a recent meeting with the Chiefs’ AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.
Former Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling — who recently visited with the Chargers — is in Buffalo tonight meeting with the Bills, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2024
The Bills and Chargers remain two of the most wide receiver-needy teams at this stage in the offseason, and Valdes-Scantling is one of the best remaining free agents on the market.
More news: NFL’s Top 10 Wide Receiver Rooms Ahead of 2024 Season: Offseason Trades Bring Major Shakeups
Valdes-Scantling, 29, is coming off his worst year as a pro, as he had career-lows in receptions (21), yards (315), and touchdowns (1). However, he had a solid postseason run with Kansas City in 2023, even catching a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl in an eventual 25-22 Chiefs win over the San Francisco 49ers.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on… LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 11: Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Valdes-Scantling visited with the Bills on Monday night.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Valdes-Scantling has been a solid veteran receiver in both Green Bay and Kansas City since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Packers. In his rookie season, Valdes-Scantling had 38 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with 26 catches for 452 yards and another two touchdowns in 2019, before enjoying the best season of his career in 2020.
That year, Valdes-Scantling caught 33 passes for a career-high 690 yards and six touchdowns and was emerging as one of the game’s best downfield threats. He then missed half of the 2021 season with a back injury, before the Packers elected not to re-sign him in free agency.
In March 2022, Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs. He caught a career-high 42 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 but saw his targets cut nearly in half in 2023.
The Chiefs elected to release Valdes-Scantling this offseason, freeing up $12 million in cap space. They then signed wide receiver Marquise Brown in free agency, before trading with the Bills in the draft to move up and select the speedy Xavier Worthy out of Texas.
The Chiefs seem satisfied with their wide receiver room, but the same can’t be said about the Bills.
The Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and let Gabe Davis walk in free agency, with their biggest addition to the receiver room being the rookie Keon Coleman. They could use another receiver before next season, and Valdes-Scantling seems like a solid option.
While the 29-year-old is far from an elite wide receiver, he could be a solid depth option for a team that lacks a ton of proven talent. Outside of Coleman, the Bills have Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel as starting wide receivers, and then Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, and K.J. Hamler, among others.
While Valdes-Scantling may not be the biggest name, he would be a very solid deep-threat option for the gunslinging Josh Allen. We’ll see if Valdes-Scantling leaves Buffalo with a deal, or if he continues his tour of AFC teams.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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