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The Kansas City Chiefs weren’t alone in their pursuit of WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling per a new report.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, not only were the Green Bay Packers looking to retain their free agent, but the New Orleans Saints were also in on Valdes-Scantling. Fowler says that the Saints were interested in doing a two-year deal and considered a favorite to land the fifth-year wideout. Instead, the Chiefs swooped in during the “final hour” to make Valdes-Scantling a three-year offer. As it turned out, it was an offer that he couldn’t refuse.
The thing about Valdes-Scantling’s deal is that it’s been reported by The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, that it’s effectively a two-year deal worth $18 million. The third year of the contract amounts to an option year, where the Chiefs will likely be able to get out of the year with minimal dead money or choose to keep Valdes-Scantling. The max value of the contract can hit up to $36 million with various incentives.
Source says the New Orleans Saints were in heavy pursuit of Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a two-year deal. New Orleans was the favorite — until Kansas City stepped up in the final hour with big three-year money.
Packers were in consideration with a one-year deal.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 24, 2022
The latest report before the news broke of his signing said the Chiefs were “50-50” in terms of their confidence on landing Valdes-Scantling, likely due to the competition. This move, however, was an integral part of Brett Veach and Andy Reid’s plan to rebuild their WR corps after trading away Tyreek Hill.
Valdes-Scantling has a combination speed to stretch the field which is unlike any receiver the team has had during the Patrick Mahomes era. He’s not a 1-to-1 replacement for Hill because that doesn’t exist, but parts of his game will certainly help fill the void.
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