Breaking; Bills Urged to Add Former Chiefs $30 Million WR in Free Agency
Brandon Beane, the general manager of the Buffalo Bills, stated that he does not intend to make a significant trade during free agency. Nevertheless, it is possible for him to explore discounted veterans as an alternative plan.
Despite the addition of free agent wide receiver Chase Claypool and his acquisition of Stefon Diggs’ jersey number, there remains apprehension regarding the Bills’ current crop of receivers following the NFL draft. It’s uncertain if Claypool will even secure a spot on the team.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report urged Buffalo to sign former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling as they make a final push towards reaching the Super Bowl this season.
Knox noted that he was taken aback by the Bills’ lack of support for quarterback Josh Allen, particularly in their failure to acquire additional receivers through the draft or free agency. While Keon Coleman could potentially fill the void left by Stefon Diggs as a top target, Knox questioned whether this would be sufficient given Buffalo’s limited off-season acquisitions including only Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins as options.
If Buffalo is looking to add another receiver who can stretch the field like Diggs did, Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be a valuable addition. Though he lacked consistency during his time with the Chiefs, picking him up in free agency would be a smart move for the Bills considering his impressive performance in 2023 postseason where he had two important catches worth 62 yards against them during divisional round.
Valdes-Scantling, who won consecutive Super Bowls with the Chiefs, may be of assistance in guiding the Bills towards their next level. Additionally, his expertise on defeating Kansas City during post-season play would prove to be incredibly advantageous.
In late February, the Chiefs released Valdes-Scantling who was in his final year of a $30 million contract. This decision allowed Kansas City to save $11.9 million for 2024 while incurring a dead money charge of $2 million.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling may be acquired by the Bills at a substantial markdown.
MVS concluded the regular season with an underwhelming 21 receptions out of 42 attempts for merely 314 yards and a solitary touchdown. Despite being Chiefs’ highest-paid receiver, his postseason exhibition didn’t meet expectations resulting in him departing from Kansas City. In four playoff encounters, he accumulated one score while capturing eight passes on thirteen targets totaling to just about 124 yards.
Knox reported that the individual, who is 29 years old and earned nearly $9 million while with Kansas City during the previous year, might be unwilling to accept a significant reduction in salary. However, given the current phase of the offseason, they may not have any other options available to them.
The Bills currently have about $2.8 million in cap space, but they are projected to gain an additional $10.2 million after releasing Tre’Davious White post-June 1st. Jay Skurski from The Buffalo News suggested that the team could also consider signing the former fifth-round draft pick as a free agent option for their roster.
During the AFC divisional playoff game hosted by the Bills in January, Valdes-Scantling was responsible for making significant plays downfield instead of Stefon Diggs. Therefore, it can be said that 29-year-old Valdes-Scantling has experience performing well under high-pressure situations.
Although it’s not overly thrilling to talk about Valdes-Scantling, he played a crucial role in leading the Chiefs to last year’s Super Bowl. Despite only catching 42 out of 81 targets for 687 yards and scoring just two touchdowns during the season, his performance notably improved when facing off against Cincinnati Bengals at AFC Championship game where he made six catches totaling up to 116 yards and one touchdown.
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, MVS had a meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers on May 6th. As such, there could be competition in trying to secure his services as a seasoned player.
The market for free agent veteran wide receivers is shrinking,
Although Valdes-Scantling’s less-than-stellar drop rate may not impress the Bills, they might have limited options when it comes to the free-agent wide receiver market that is currently shrinking.
As Rashee Rice is anticipated to be suspended, Chiefs analysts suggest that Kansas City might acquire another seasoned player. Skurski suggested Michael Thomas – a former starter for the New Orleans Saints – and Zay Jones (a previous wide receiver for Bills) as possible options. These names have also been mentioned by Chiefs insiders.
