After a Monday visit, the Saints have officially added more depth to their struggling offense by signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported the news. Valdes-Scantling had a workout with the team earlier that day, though the contract details weren’t immediately available.
Previously with the Buffalo Bills, Valdes-Scantling has 188 receptions, 3,181 yards, and 16 touchdowns in his seven-year NFL career. This season, he only caught two passes on nine targets for 26 yards in six games before Buffalo released him last week, following their acquisition of Amari Cooper.
The Saints’ receiving corps has been hit hard by injuries, with starters Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed missing last Thursday’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Shaheed (knee) is out for the rest of the season, while Olave remains in concussion protocol with no clear timeline for his return.
Last week, the Saints also added veteran Dante Pettis to their practice squad, joining Kevin Austin Jr., Equanimeous St. Brown, and Jermaine Jackson. St. Brown and Jackson were elevated to the active roster but didn’t make any receptions. Jackson, however, handled kickoff and punt returns in Shaheed’s absence, a role he’s expected to continue.
Without Olave and Shaheed, the Saints relied on rookie Bub Means, undrafted rookie Mason Tipton, and veteran Cedrick Wilson alongside St. Brown in their game against the Broncos, where the group totaled 15 catches for 139 yards.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, now 30, was originally a fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft out of South Florida. As a rookie, he made 38 receptions for 581 yards. During his four seasons with Green Bay, he tallied 123 catches for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns, with his best year in 2020, when he recorded 33 receptions for 690 yards and six touchdowns.
In 2022, Valdes-Scantling signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, contributing to their success over two seasons and helping them secure two Super Bowl titles. During his time with the Chiefs, he accumulated 63 receptions for 1,002 yards and three touchdowns. Notably, he scored a touchdown in Kansas City’s 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers and posted six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the 2023 AFC Championship victory over the Bengals, leading to Super Bowl LVII.
Standing at 6’4″ and 206 pounds, Valdes-Scantling brings a physical presence to the Saints’ receiving corps, which is currently depleted due to injuries. Even when healthy, the Saints lack a big-bodied target like him. New Orleans, currently ranked 22nd in passing yards, has been struggling, partly due to injuries to QB Derek Carr and three starting offensive linemen.
The Saints are on a five-game losing streak after starting the season with two wins and will look to turn things around in their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
