Seahawks sign WR
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Seahawks added a borderline starting wide receiver on Wednesday, signing free agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million. The connection now makes sense because MVS started eight games for Klint Kubiak on the New Orleans Saints in 2024.
He was also having his best season, as his 48.1 yards per game is a career-best. This video has some of his 2024 highlights.
A fifth round pick of the Packers in 2018, MVS led the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch in 2020 but in seven seasons has never had more than 700 yards.
In that regard, a fair expectation (not a player comparison, just in the sense of how much value we can expect) might be someone like Jermaine Kearse. Valdes-Scantling can start games, but he is not a replacement for DK Metcalf even though they are both tall and fast.
MVS is 6’4 and he ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash seven years ago.
If we compare this signing to Tuesday’s post about replacing outgoing snaps on Seattle’s roster, MVS might not be a replacement but more of a new direction. He could get 500-700 snaps, but isn’t threatening Jaxon Smith-Njigba for attention and the Seahawks stll need to add another notable receiver…probably two.
His contract is “up to” $5.5 million, so his final numbers will tell us what he’s actually making and what his cap hit is going to be. The Seahawks have money to spend though, even after keeping Ernest Jones and Jarran Reed and adding Sam Darnold, so this won’t impact Seattle’s financial power at all.
Seaside Joe 2198
The Saints’ receiving stats (yards) are weird:
Johnson (TE) - 548
Kamara (RB) - 543
Moreau (TE) - 413
Olave (WR) - 400
MVS (WR) - 385
Shaheed (WR) -349
“Though MVS was the number two wide receiver, he finished the season just 15 yards behind Olave.” 😎
My takeaway is that Kubiak spreads the passes around, relying on scheme, rather than a superstar receiver.
Also note that MVS is tall. Kubiak probably likes MVS for his downfield run blocking.
Excellent, low key signing, given the context.
Going with a guy Kubiak likes is a good move. I wanted a WR3 from free agency and a WR2 from the draft. This looks like a decent WR3 free agency pick up. Kubiak is probably going to go with fewer 3 and 4 WR formations due to his preference for 2 RB and 2 TE formations. Looks like Bobo and Dereke Young are WR4 and 5. Getting a WR with speed in the draft might be nice. From media interviews with the Ohio State WR, he is a big Seahawks fan. He also looks like a real refined route runner. But will he be there at 50 or 52? The guy whose film I liked was Burden. He is always looking for YAC, and is built like a RB. Good hands and really goes after the ball. He will also not likely make it to 50 or 52.