In case you hadn’t noticed, the Los Angeles Chargers could use another wide receiver or two. After parting ways with both Mike Evans and Keenan Allen, the only players of note left on the depth chart are first-round bust Quentin Johnston and journeyman Josh Palmer. While the team will probably add a prospect or two in the 2024 NFL Draft, the team could go after a free agent like Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
After entering the league with the Green Bay Packers, the former fifth-round pick signed a three-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. While the speedy deep threat helped the team win two consecutive Super Bowls, drops and inconsistency plagued his tenure with the team. Eventually, Kansas City decided that he wasn’t worth his cap hit and made Marquez Valdes-Scantling a free agent.
The South Florida product is a limited player who should never be a featured part of any passing attack, but he can be effective in a small role. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Folwer, the Chargers are doing their homework on Marquez Valdes-Scantling and could sign him as a free agent.
The Chargers are interested in former Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) April 5, 2024
Los Angeles Chargers Interested In Free Agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is an interesting free agent for for the Chargers. On the one hand, this team needs as many receivers as humanly possible, as even a quarterback as great as Justin Herbert will have a hard time succeeding with his current supporting cast. On the other hand, Valdes-Scantling is nothing more than a straight-line deep threat, and the Chargers already have one of those in Josh Palmer.
Chances are, the Chargers will wait until after the 2024 NFL Draft before signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling as a free agent. The wide receiver class is loaded with talent, and Los Angeles won’t need the veteran if they can get one or two young playmakers. However, if they miss on their preferred targets, then perhaps they’ll consider signing the free agency.
While Marquez Valdes-Scantling isn’t the top free agent on anyone’s board, the two-time Super Bowl champion should have some interested suitors other than Los Angeles. Once again, this will probably come down to the NFL Draft. If the following teams miss out on some good prospects, they could give Valdes-Scantling a call.
Other Possible Fits
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have two reliable intermediate threats in Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, but they lack a player capable of taking the top off the defense. Bryce Young threw a beautiful deep ball in college, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could help bring that part of his game to Carolina as a free agent.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have not done a good job of putting their rookie quarterback in a position to succeed. Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas are fine playmakers, but neither guy should be the top option in a passing attack. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also should not be anyone’s top option, but the free agent is a more reliable deep threat than Tyquan Thornton. Even if he won’t be anything more than the third or fourth option, he runs a smoother route tree than the former second-round pick and actually has some muscle on his body.
Buffalo Bills
While nobody will miss his off-field demeanor, the Buffalo Bills will have a difficult time replacing Stefon Diggs’ on-field production. Curtis Samuel and Khalil Shakir can handle the short and intermediate part of the field, but somebody needs to threaten defenses deep. Josh Allen’s arm can reach any part of the field, making the speedy Marquez Valdes-Scantling an interesting free agent option.
New York Jets
The Jets are going all-in on the final years of Aaron Rodgers’ storied career and have done a good job building around the veteran. After improving the offensive line and adding a reliable perimeter threat in Mike Williams, the team just needs a complementary deep threat. They thought Mecole Hardman could fill that role last year, but Valdes-Scantling is a better choice for the job.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have two great wide receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but they don’t have anything behind those two. Quez Watkins wore out his welcome in Philadelphia, but the team could use a speedster to fill that role in the offense. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a similar skill set and the free agent could be an upgrade on the former sixth-round pick.
Main Photo: James Lang – USA Today Sports
