Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s Bills visit has proven to be a fruitful one. The veteran wideout has a Buffalo agreement in place, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team has since announced the move. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds this one-year pact includes a $1.125MM signing bonus. The deal carries a maximum value of $4.5MM, and it eliminates another receiver from the post-draft free agent market. Valdes-Scantling will aim to provide Buffalo with a vertical threat in the team’s vastly different 2024 wideout setup.
The Bills lost Gabe Davis in free agency when he inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Jaguars. Davis proved himself to be an effective field-stretcher during his four years in Buffalo, averaging 16.7 yards per reception. It came as little surprise when he departed, though, as the team turned its attention elsewhere in the pass-catching corps.
At the time of Davis’ departure, Stefon Diggs was still in place as the Bills’ top receiver. He was dealt to the Texans in April, however, creating a notable vacancy in terms of targets in the Buffalo passing attack. Curtis Samuel was added in free agency, and (after trading down twice) the team used its top draft pick on Keon Coleman. Quarterback Josh Allen was on board with selecting the Florida State product, and it will be interesting to see how their chemistry develops in 2024 and beyond.
Valdes-Scantling spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, helping the team win back-to-back Super Bowls. The 29-year-old only saw his catch percentage (51.2%) improve slightly compared to his tenure in Green Bay, and issues related to drops will no doubt be a talking point if they continue this season as he joins the Bills. Valdes-Scantling also met with the Chargers before his Buffalo summit, but he has elected to join Allen and Co. as they look to improve on last year’s run to the divisional round.
Buffalo’s switch to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 campaign saw the team lean more heavily on the running game. That will likely continue this season, with tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox each having a notable role. The receiver room will look much different, however, and Valdes-Scantling will look to carve out a starting spot ahead of free agency next offseason.
Dude is all legs. Good luck Buffalo, can’t count on him to make plays.
Im not super happy with this, but given the current state of the WR room – I feel myself okay with it.
Watched him the 2 years he was in KC, never once did I see him use his size and jump up for ball or fight his way through a defender. Good blocker though.
When his agent called with the news, Marquez dropped his phone.
Hahahaha
Well at least it’s not another guy who’s best in the slot.
I never did understand letting Davis walk and trading Diggs. I understand salary cap issues. But with no quality wideouts,is like a motor boat with only paddles
Gabe Davis is really not that great, very inconsistent and overrated
Davis was inconsistent and the Bills would have been crazy to match Jacksonville’s offer and Diggs skills seemed to be falling off a cliff late last season. While they can only field so many WRs, it looks like Brady may do more rotation, though that could mess with the QB dynamics. We many not know until they suit up in September.
During the draft last yr the Bills brass said they wanted Kincaid to become a center piece of the offense.
This would be impossible if Diggs still demanded his 135 targets. The offensive approach wanted to change which again couldn’t with Diggs. Lastly you saw Diggs not being able to get open with teams dedicated to special cover packages for him, again that wouldn’t have changed this year
So let’s see what Brady has to dial up for Allen
The goal of this season was to get out of salary cap prison which after this year Buffalo will be in much better shape vs clinging on to Diggs and eating 30 million the following yr.
Agree. Spreading the ball makes it hard to double-team one player.
He’s played with 2 future HOF QBs and couldn’t succeed so temper your expectations with the move to Buffalo.
The Bills won’t rely on him as a #1 receiver (maybe 4 or 5) and with that inexpensive contract, expectations won’t be high.
Buffalo can add all the receivers they want. Buffalo is still not good enough to beat KC.
They’re better than KC. Have been for awhile. They beat themselves. Whether that’s the qb or the coaching, couldn’t tell you. This is a very talented team that repeatedly let’s themselves and their fanbase down.
Claypool and MVS are both tryout players. They’ve been told it’s their last stop. If they slack, please come to my office and bring your playbook. No loss. Only possible upside.
I dont think you give MVS that signing bonus to be a tryout guy. He’s the number 4, and a rotational piece in Brady’s toolbox. Three out of four times he’s blocking or running pointless wind sprints. But that one time the opponent brought the safety up into the box because the run, the short passes to TE’s, the screens and YAC plays were efficiently generating first downs, that one time Josh is throwing the long ball to this guy. He only needs to haul one or two in during the playoff run to be worth the money.
In a vacuum I would agree. I actually don’t mind these type of signings.
But given the current WR group – they are kind of counting on someone to hit instead of this being a traditional flier signing.
That is my issue. If we had a better 1 and 2, its a good risk.
If you have a question like Keon Coleman and some combination of slot guys and Chade Claypool its less ideal.
Well since Allen can’t hit anyone in stride you might as well get receivers he can throw at and use their size.
Riiiiight. Cant hit anyone in stride.
Nice work.
Everyone is a KC fan now they all use to be Patriot fans before