Marquez Valdes-Scantling did not make the Seattle Seahawks 53-man roster, but it didn’t take long for the former fifth-round pick to find a home with the San Francisco 49ers. While he’s far from a star player in the league, Valdes-Scantling proved he still has some juice left in his tank down the stretch last year. Making a brief cameo with the New Orleans Saints, the speedy wideout finished his eight games in the Big Easy with 17 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
Following his release, Marquez Valdes-Scantling recently said he had the opportunity to reunite with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the Pittsburgh Steelers but ultimately took a chance with San Francisco.
“It was between here and Pittsburgh,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Obviously, I have a great relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wanted me back over there. So, it was a toss-up, 50/50, and I had to weigh my options and see which one I wanted to do, which was going to be better for my career at this point, and I was excited about it.”
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Chose 49ers Over Steelers, Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers spent most of the offseason looking for a reliable WR2 to pair with D.K. Metcalf, and that search continues as they head into the Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets. Valdes-Scantling isn’t a starting-caliber receiver at this stage in his career, but his connection with Rodgers would have helped him succeed in a new environment. The two played together in Green Bay for four years, and Valdes-Scantling helped Rodgers win MVP in 2020 and 2021.
Of course, the 49ers have a desperate need for receivers themselves. Just about everyone on the depth chart is battling through some kind of injury, and Valdes-Scantling should play an immediate role from Week 1. Add in the benefit of playing with an offensive mastermind in Kyle Shanahan, and it’s easy to see why he chose the West Coast club.
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