The Buffalo Bills tried to add some speed and versatility with veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but the experiment lasted only a few weeks before his sudden release in October to make way for another major receiver acquisition.
The former Kansas City Chiefs receiver landed with the New Orleans Saints and went on a tear the rest of the season, and now could be headed to a big role with another team.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s Disappointing Tenure in Buffalo
The Bills added Valdes-Scantling in May 2024 with the hope of bringing some big-play ability to the wide receiver room. The team had just traded Stefon Diggs and allowed No. 2 Gabe Davis to leave in free agency, creating an opportunity for Valdes-Scantling to take a major role.
But the veteran pass-catcher struggled to find a role on the team, making just two catches for 26 yards across six games. The Bills released Valdes-Scantling in October to clear a roster spot for the newly acquired Amari Cooper.
Valdes-Scantling signed with the Saints and went on to make 17 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns in eight games — a rare player mistake for a Bills team that often gets the most out of its talent.
Valdes-Scantling hit free agency at the end of the season and signed with the Seahawks, where he is expected to take on a significant role in the offense. Cameron Van Til of Seattle Sports predicted he would earn a spot on the depth chart just behind stars Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“Smith-Njigba, Kupp, Valdes-Scantling and Horton figure to be the primary receiving options,” Van Til wrote.
Last season’s decision didn’t work out for the Bills, with Cooper struggling to make an impact. Though he had some big contributions, the veteran receiver also went quiet at times and made just 20 receptions for 297 yards and two touchdowns through eight games in Buffalo.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Understands His Role
The veteran receiver said he was excited to sign with the Seahawks, a team with an offense in flux. The Seahawks parted ways with quarterback Geno Smith and signed Sam Darnold after his turnaround season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Valdes-Scantling said when he signed with the team in May that he understood the role he would play.
“I’m very excited,” Valdes-Scantling said, via the team’s official website. “I was only [In New Orleans] for eight games and put up some pretty big numbers in a short amount of time with two head coaches and through three quarterbacks. I’m grateful for this opportunity. I’m super excited with what Klint has done and what his offense looks like.”
Valdes-Scantling added that offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who he worked with while on the Saints, was a big reason he decided to sign with the Seahawks.
“I think that was all Klint,” he said. “We were together in New Orleans and when he took the job here, I think it was a great fit. Obviously, they lost some really good receivers, so it kind of opened the door for me to come in and kind of step in.”
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