Camp corps or likely contributor? Analysis of the Buffalo Bills’ latest WR addition

Needle mover? No, but what’s the harm in kicking the tires?

The Buffalo Bills signed two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract Tuesday, and while the pass catcher doesn’t replace Stefon Diggs or Gabe Davis, his addition isn’t just useless. facade.

Valdes-Scantling, 29, who spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, is certainly not guaranteed to make the Bills’ 53-man roster because he is in a low-risk group and potentially high reward. signees at the wide receiver position this offseason. While viewing Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel as known and reliable commodities, Buffalo added former second-round receivers KJ Hamler and Chase Claypool in hopes of finding capable contributors who can make up for some of the missing production.

With top draft picks Keon Coleman, Samuel, Shakir and Mack Hollins penciled in, Claypool, Valdes-Scantling and Hamler are likely competing for one spot, maybe two at best. Former second-round speed option Andy Isabella and 2023 fifth-rounder Justin Shorter are also right in the mix.

Here are the reasons why I think MVS will earn a spot on the 2024 bill list:

Fill a need

The more I look at the acquisition of Valdes-Scantling, the more I think he is more than just a camp corps to provide competition in the receiver room. There appears to be a role as a battle-tested deep ball specialist who can help the team better take advantage of Josh Allen’s bazooka arm.

With Davis being the closest comparison, the Bills have lacked a physical and feared option on the backfield in recent years.

Two encouraging figures

The 6-foot-4 Valdes-Scantling has the size to win contested catches down the field and has a career average of 17.0 yards per reception.

Big game production

Valdes-Scantling has had his share of stunning falls, but he’s been successful several times during the playoffs for the Chiefs each of the last two years.

After a touchdown reception in a 2022 AFC Divisional Round victory over Jacksonville, Valdes-Scantling had six receptions, 116 yards and a touchdown in the championship game victory over Cincinnati. Last January, he helped take down Buffalo by making two monster catches that moved the chains in key spots. His 16-yard TD reception in the third quarter gave Kansas City its first lead over San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII.

MVS means MVP?

With Valdes-Scantling on the Green Bay Packers roster, quarterback Aaron Rodgers won the NFL MVP award in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022, Valdes-Scantling moved to Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes earned another MVP honor. Although Mahomes did not win the 2023 NFL MVP award, he did win the Super Bowl MVP with the help of MVS.

Valdes-Scantling’s career year came with Rodgers in 2020 when he recorded 690 yards, six touchdowns and averaged 20.9 ypc over a 16-game sample.