Although he has no plans to make a major impact in free agency, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that acquiring a bargain veteran is still an option.
The wide receivers room for the Bills remains a worry after the NFL draft. Although he may not even make the squad, Buffalo signed free agency wide receiver Chase Claypool last week and assigned him Stefon Diggs’ jersey number.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox pushed Buffalo to sign former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in an effort to help the Bills make it to the Super Bowl this season.
South Florida’s own MVS with a touchdown in the Super Bowl!🤘#AmericanFB pic.twitter.com/l8urJNYTCF
— The American (@American_Conf) February 12, 2024
Knox noted, “It was unexpected that the Bills did not take more action to support quarterback Josh Allen.” “(Keon) Coleman could be a good enough substitute for Diggs as the team’s top target, but Buffalo only signed free agents like Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel and didn’t add any more receivers in the draft.
“Buffalo has room for another receiver, especially one who can stretch the field like Diggs used to. The Bills would be wise to sign former conference opponent Marquez Valdes-Scantling. During his two years with the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling wasn’t very reliable, but he had a great postseason in 2023, with two catches for 62 yards against Buffalo in the divisional round.
After leading the Chiefs to consecutive Super Bowl victories, Valdes-Scantling might also assist in demonstrating to the Bills what is necessary to make the figurative next move. Furthermore, any advice he could give on defeating Kansas City in the postseason would be extremely beneficial.
When Valdes-Scantling was cut by the Chiefs in late February, he was about to enter the final year of his $30 million contract. Despite a $2 million dead money charge, the decision saved Kansas City $11.9 million in 2024.
MVS concluded the regular season collecting 21-of-42 targets for a dismal 314 yards for one score. Even though he was the Chiefs’ highest-paid receiver, his postseason success wasn’t enough to keep him in the city. In four playoff games, he grabbed 8-of-13 targets for 124 yards and one score.
According to Knox, the 29-year-old made just less than $9 million with Kansas City in the previous season and might not be willing to accept a significant pay decrease. “At this point in the offseason, though, he might not have a choice.”
With Tre’Davious White’s post-June 1 release, the Bills will clear an additional $10.2 million in cap space, bringing their total cap room to about $2.8 million. The previous 2018 fifth-round pick was also mentioned by Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News as a potential free agency choice for the Bills.
“It was Valdes-Scantling, and not Stefon Diggs, who was making big plays down the field when the Bills hosted the Chiefs in January in an AFC divisional playoff game. At the very least, Valdes-Scantling, 29, is big-game tested.”
Marquez Valdes-Scantling was there when @PatrickMahomes needed him. 💪 pic.twitter.com/d1UgupcETq
— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2023
Though it’s hard to get excited about Valdes-Scantling, he also contributed to the Chiefs’ 2017 Super Bowl victory. In the AFC Championship game, he caught six passes for 116 yards and one touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals, after only completing 42 of 81 targets for 687 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
The Bills might be turned off by Valdes-Scantling’s drop rate, but there are fewer wide receivers available as free agents.
Skurski listed former wide receiver Zay Jones of the Bills and former starter Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints as options. Chiefs analysts have also mentioned both names, speculating that Kansas City may add a veteran player in light of Rashee Rice’s anticipated suspension.