The Kansas City Chiefs have made another move in an attempt to fill the massive void left by Tyreek Hill, and have signed Green Bay Packers veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a three-year deal.
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news that the Chiefs looked to improve their wide receivers corps with the addition of 2018 fifth-round pick, and four-year NFL veteran, Marquez-Scantling.
“Former Packers’ WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing a three-year, $30 million deal worth up to $36 million with the Chiefs, per source. This is called living right: Valdes-Scantling goes from the NFL’s reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers to the NFL’s former MVP Patrick Mahomes,” Schefter tweeted.
Kansas City Chiefs work to fill Tyreek Hill void with Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing
The signing is a necessary expense after the team parted ways with their superstar wide receiver Hill yesterday. After negotiations on a contract extension broke down, the team gave the six-time Pro Bowler permission to seek out a new home via trade. It was only a matter of hours before that suitor was found, and Hill was shipped off to the Miami Dolphins for a boatload of draft picks.
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling stats (2021): 26 receptions, 430 yards, 3 touchdowns
The addition of Marquez Valdes-Scantling follows the team’s signing of one-time Pro Bowler and Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Juju Schuster-Smith last week. During his four years in Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling has progressed into a strong WR3 option. His best season yet came in 2020 when he snagged 33 catches, for 690 yards, and six touchdowns.
However, last season the 27-year-old only played in 11 games and saw his numbers decline in every major category. He finished the year with 26 receptions, 430 yards receiving, and three touchdowns.
- Tyreek Hill stats (2021): 111 receptions, 1,239 yards, 9 touchdowns
Considering the deal he was just given by the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling will likely be the favorite to land the WR2 spot behind Schuster-Smith, and in front of Mecole Hardman. The wideout group will have a lot of ground to make up as they try to match the 111 catches, 1,239 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns from Hill in 2021.
