The Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that there are no plans to make a big trade in free agency, but considering a discounted veteran is still an option.
Following the NFL draft, there is still worry about the Bills wide receivers room. Buffalo signed free agent wide receiver Chase Claypool last week and gave him Stefon Diggs' jersey number, but he might not even make the team.
In an effort for the Bills to finally reach the Super Bowl this season, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox encouraged Buffalo to sign former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“It was surprising to see the Bills not do more to help quarterback Josh Allen,” Knox wrote. “(Keon) Coleman might be a good replacement for Diggs as a No. 1 target, but Buffalo didn’t add another receiver in the draft and has only added the likes of Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency.
“There’s room for another receiver in Buffalo’s lineup, specifically one who can stretch the field as Diggs once did. Acquiring former conference rival Marquez Valdes-Scantling would be a great move for the Bills. Valdes-Scantling wasn’t particularly consistent in his two years with the Chiefs, but he came up big during the 2023 postseason—including two catches for 62 yards against Buffalo in the divisional round.
“After winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling could also help show the Bills what is required to take that proverbial next step. Plus, any insight he might provide on how to beat Kansas City in the postseason would be extremely valuable.”
Valdes-Scantling was entering the final year of his $30 million contract when the Chiefs cut him in late February. The move saved Kansas City $11.9 million in 2024 with a $2 million dead money charge.
The Bills Could Land Marquez Valdes-Scantling at a Hefty Discount
GettyFormer Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024.
MVS finished the regular season catching 21-of-42 targets for a meager 314 yards for one touchdown. As the highest-paid receiver on the Chiefs roster, his postseason performance wasn’t adequate to keep him in Kansas City. In four playoff games, he caught 8-of-13 targets for 124 yards and one score.
“The 29-year-old earned just under $9 million with Kansas City last year and might not be willing to take a significant pay cut,” Knox wrote. “At this point in the offseason, however, he might not have a choice.”
The Bills have approximately $2.8 million in cap space but will clear another $10.2 million with Tre’Davious White’s post-June 1 release. The Buffalo News‘ Jay Skurski also named the former 2018 fifth-rounder as a free-agent option for the Bills.
“It was Valdes-Scantling, and not Stefon Diggs, who was making big plays down the field when the Bills hosted the Chiefs in January in an AFC divisional playoff game. At the very least, Valdes-Scantling, 29, is big-game tested.”
While it’s hard to get excited about Valdes-Scantling, he helped propel the Chiefs to the Super Bowl last year, too. After recording just 42-of-81 targets for 687 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2022, he posted 6 catches for 116 yards and 1 touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov said that MVS had a meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, May 6. So, there might be some competition to sign the experienced player.
Bills News: The Market for Experienced Free Agent Wide Receivers Is Shrinking
GettyFormer Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas at Lambeau Field on September 24, 2023.
While Valdes-Scantling’s drop rate may turn the Bills off, the free-agent wide receiver market is dwindling.
Skurski named former New Orleans Saints starter Michael Thomas as an option, along with former Bills wide receiver Zay Jones. Both names have also been floated among Chiefs analysts, who predict Kansas City could add another veteran player amid Rashee Rice’s expected suspension.
