The 2024 season is well underway, but NFL teams continue to explore ways to improve their rosters. The New Orleans Saints, for instance, are reportedly signing a former Super Bowl champion with Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs to boost their offense.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is joining New Orleans. During the weekend, it was reported that he’d have a visit and work out with the Saints on Monday.
The 30-year-old was released by the Buffalo Bills less than a week ago, having recorded just two catches for 26 yards in six appearances with Josh Allen and company during the 2024 NFL season.
A two-time Super Bowl champion with Mahomes in his two seasons in Kansas City (2022-2023), Valdes-Scantling was also cut by the Chiefs in February, shortly after the Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas. That forced him to try his luck in free agency, eventually landing in Buffalo.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling during practice with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Valdes-Scantling could provide some help to a Saints offense that was struck by injuries recently. Apart from losing quarterback Derek Carr due to an oblique injury, New Orleans found out that a knee injury will keep Rashid Shaheed on the sidelines for the rest of the 2024 NFL season.
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Valdes-Scantling could have helped Mahomes amid Chiefs’ injury crisis
While most fans won’t feel like they’re missing out on a great target, Valdes-Scantling could have been helpful for Kansas City. It was an easy opportunity for the Chiefs to reunite Mahomes with a Super Bowl champion, which shouldn’t be underestimated given the current state of the team’s pass catchers.
The Chiefs are without their primary wide receivers as both Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice got injured, and it could take a while to see them return to action. In regard to the latter, Reid seemed to confirm the Chiefs will lose him for the rest of the year.
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And since Brown’s return date also remains unclear, adding a familiar face as a free agent wouldn’t have been crazy for Kansas City at this point. The team doesn’t have much cap space to make a trade, and there aren’t many options out there. While Davante Adams never looked like a realistic target, the Bills have prevented the Chiefs from helping Mahomes with Amari Cooper.
Both Reid and Mahomes have expressed nothing but confidence in the Chiefs’ healthy wide receivers so far. However, we’ll have to wait and see whether that remains the case as the season advances.
