The Bills have confirmed that they have signed a former Chiefs WR for $30 million in free agency.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that he has no intentions to make a major splash deal in free agency, but that a cheap veteran is still an option.
Following the NFL draft, there is still worry about the Bills’ wide receiver room. Last week, Buffalo signed free agency wide receiver Chase Claypool and assigned him Stefon Diggs’ jersey number, but he may not even make the roster
In an effort to help the Bills reach the Super Bowl this season, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox advised Buffalo to sign former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“It was surprising to see the Bills not do more to aid quarterback Josh Allen,” Knox stated. “(Keon) Coleman may be a solid substitute for Diggs as a No. 1 target, but Buffalo did not pick another receiver and has only signed Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency.
“There is room in Buffalo’s lineup for another receiver, preferably one who can spread the field like Diggs did. Acquiring former conference opponent Marquez Valdes-Scantling would be a fantastic move for the Bills. Valdes-Scantling wasn’t especially steady over his two seasons with the Chiefs, but he came up big in the 2023 playoffs, including two catches for 62 yards against Buffalo in the divisional round.
“After winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs, Valdes-Scantling may help demonstrate the Bills what is needed to reach the next stage. Plus, any advice he might give on how to beat Kansas City in the playoffs would be extremely important.”
Valdes-Scantling was in the final year of his $30 million deal when the Chiefs released him in late February. The action saved Kansas City $11.9 million in 2024, including a $2 million dead money charge.
MVS ended the regular season by catching 21 of 42 targets for 314 yards and one score. As the highest-paid receiver on the Chiefs’ roster, his postseason performance was insufficient to keep him in Kansas City. In four postseason games, he caught eight of thirteen targets for 124 yards and one touchdown.
“The 29-year-old earned just under $9 million with Kansas City last year and might not be eager to take a substantial pay cut,” Knox stated. “At this point in the offseason, though, he might not have a choice.”
The Bills have around $2.8 million in salary space, but Tre’Davious White’s departure after June 1 will free up another $10.2 million. Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News identified the former 2018 fifth-round pick as a free-agent candidate for the Bills.
“When the Bills played the Chiefs in an AFC divisional playoff game in January, Valdes-Scantling was making big plays down the field rather than Stefon Diggs. At the very least, Valdes-Scantling, 29, has big-game experience.
While Valdes-Scantling is difficult to get excited about, he also helped lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl last season. After catching 42 of 81 targets for 687 yards and two scores in 2022, he had six catches for 116 yards and one touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov stated that MVS met with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, May 6. So there may be considerable competition to hire the veteran.
Bills News: The Veteran FA Wide Receiver Market is Dwindling.
On September 24, 2023, former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas visited Lambeau Field.
While Valdes-Scantling’s drop rate may discourage the Bills, the free-agent wide receiver market is shrinking.
Skurski mentioned former New Orleans Saints starter Michael Thomas as a candidate, as well as former Bills wide receiver Zay Jones. Both names have been suggested by Chiefs observers, who believe Kansas City will sign another seasoned player in the wake of Rashee Rice’s likely suspension.
Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Bills, Seahawks, and Chiefs. She’s been with Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the greatest names in sports, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal, and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks.
