The Seattle Seahawks have a trio of young wide receivers who emerged as strong roster candidates this preseason, leading one outlet to predict that the team will unload one of the suddenly expendable veterans at the position.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay suggested trades for all 32 NFL teams as the season approaches, predicting the Seahawks could move Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the Minnesota Vikings. Some insiders have already suggested that Valdes-Scantling could be on the roster bubble, and the trade would allow the Seahawks to recoup some value rather than losing him outright.
Seahawks Youngsters Clearing Way for Marquez Valdes-Scantling Trade
Kay noted that the Seahawks made some big changes to their wide receiving corps this offseason, parting ways with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Those changes cleared the way for some new talent to emerge, he wrote.
“While these decisions seemingly created a hole in the receiving corps, the team’s youthful pass-catching corps has been stepping up in the preseason,” Kay wrote. “With unheralded weapons like Dareke Young, Jake Bobo and rookie Tory Horton making waves in training camp, free-agent addition Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be expendable.”
With Young, Bobo, and Horton on the path to significant roles this season, Kay suggested that Valdes-Scantling could become expendable and proposed the team trade him to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 seventh-round NFL Draft pick.
“While the Seahawks added MVS when it appeared they would lack playmakers around star wideout Jaxson Smith-Njigba, the emergence of these youthful pass-catchersâalong with the high-profile addition of Cooper Kuppâleaves the aging receiver on the roster’s fringes,” Kay wrote.
“Rather than release the 30-year-old, the Seahawks should take what they can get from a team with a clear void in the receiving corps. The Vikings are a perfect trade partner due to the injury and suspension issues that recently ravaged the position.”
If they trade Valdes-Scantling, the Seahawks would be parting ways with a steady veteran who has appeared in 106 NFL games and made 205 total receptions for 3,566 yards and 20 touchdowns. A deep-ball specialist, Valdes-Scantling has averaged 17.4 yards per reception in his career.
Scantling started the 2024 season with the Buffalo Bills but struggled to find a role, being released when the team traded for Amari Cooper. He joined the New Orleans Saints and had a strong end to the season, making 17 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.
Tory Horton Surges Ahead
Some insiders have suggested that Valdes-Scantling could be released if he’s not traded. Others see a reduced role for the veteran. SI.comâs Connor Benintendi wrote that he expected Valdes-Scantling to make the final cut, but believes he has fallen behind the fast-rising Horton on the depth chart.
âThis version of Seattleâs offense reflects the meteoric rise of Tory Horton, who slots in as Seattleâs third wide receiver ahead of Marquez Valdes-Scantling,â Benintendi wrote. âHe also handles kick and punt return duties alongside Cody White or George Holani. Horton has been the most impressive unproven pass-catcher weâve seen this offseason, and this represents that.â
John Boyle, a reporter for the teamâs official website, added that Horton has an edge in his special teams play, which he expected to be a deciding factor for the wide receivers at the bottom of the roster.
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