The Pittsburgh Steelers’ pursuit of wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was short lived. While the team was reportedly among the two finalists to sign the recently waived veteran receiver, Valdes-Scantling is heading to the San Francisco 49ers.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov reported Wednesday that Valdes-Scantling chose to sign with the 49ers instead of the Steelers.
The possibility of the Steelers signing the veteran emerged late Tuesday night. NFL insider Aaron Wilson suggested the Steelers and 49ers were the two possibilities for the 30-year-old receiver.
The Seattle Seahawks waived Valdes-Scantling prior to the league’s roster deadline Tuesday. The receiver spent the 2024 campaign with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints.
In 14 games, he posted 19 catches for 411 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Steelers WR Depth Without Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The 30-year-old wideout could have been a nice addition to Pittsburgh’s receiving corps. While had only saw 44 targets last season, Valdes-Scantling averaged 21.6 yards per catch.
He led the NFL in that category with 20.9 yards per reception during 2020. Over his entire seven-year career, Valdes-Scantling has posted 17.4 yards per grab.
The receiver is also very familiar with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two were teammates with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-21.
Over four seasons with Rodgers as his quarterback, Valdes-Scantling averaged about 31 catches, 538 receiving yards and three touchdowns per year. He averaged 17.5 yards per reception.
After leaving the Packers, Valdes-Scantling helped the Kansas City Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls in 2022 and 2023.
But the veteran won’t be joining the Steelers roster after choosing to sign with San Francisco instead.
The Steelers had five wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster Tuesday. Pundits project DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III to start. Veteran Scotty Miller had a strong preseason to earn a roster spot. The Steelers also have high hopes for 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson.
The fifth receiver spot belonged to Ben Skowronek, but he provides more on special teams than offense.
Other Potential Steelers WR Targets
Valdes-Scantling may have been Pittsburgh’s top early choice as a roster addition after Tuesday’s cuts. But he won’t be the only option.
Another intriguing possibility is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Trey Palmer. Pundits previously linked the Steelers to Palmer through offseason trade rumors.
After stocking their roster with receiver talent the past couple drafts, the Buccaneers waived Palmer on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay drafted Palmer in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had 51 catches, 557 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 32 games with the Buccaneers.
Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora named Palmer an option for the Steelers in the hours after the roster cuts. Kozora also argued veteran Zach Pascal could be a target.
“An older player, Pascal won’t bring big plays to the Steelers’ offense,” Kozora wrote. “But he’s a physical blocker cut from the Robert Woods mold, but with more size and far more special teams value.”
Pascal stands at 6-foot-2 and 219 pounds. He has played at least 200 snaps on special teams each of the past three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.
Last season, Pascal lined up for a career-high 278 special teams snaps. Meanwhile, he only played 68 snaps on offense.
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