Marquez Valdes-Scantling cites Chiefs’ winning culture as reason for signing

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a certain leg up over much of the competition when it comes to convincing players to join them in recent years. It’s the advantage held by clubs who have enjoyed sustained success, the presence of a future Hall of Fame head coach, the talent of one of the game’s best quarterbacks, and an overall healthy organizational culture. For

When it came to making the right decision in free agency for wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, it sounds as if most or all of those came into play in helping him decide to be the latest addition for the Chiefs.

In the wake of K.C.’s decision to trade away superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs knew they would need to add significant talent to make up for the deficit on the offensive side of the ball. It helps considerably, of course, that the game’s best tight end remains in house with Travis Kelce. The team had also locked up former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with a one-year deal. However, the team knew they needed some deep speed and turned to Valdes-Scantling for another option.

The winning ways of the Kansas City Chiefs were one of the primary reasons why Marquez Valdes-Scantling decided to sign with the team.

Valdes-Scantling was used to a few things as a former member of the Green Bay Packers—namely elite quarterback play with the presence of Aaron Rodgers and a winning organization given the Packers’ dominance of the NFC North in recent seasons. When asked about signing with the Chiefs, MVS told The Oracle—the student newspaper at the University of South Florida—that it helped that K.C. had some of those same luxuries he was already accustomed to having.

"“Obviously they’re a winning organization,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Coming from Green Bay, we won a lot there. So, it’s hard to go somewhere where we weren’t winning a lot. And obviously you got Patrick Mahomes and a receiving room that has changed and turned over a little bit. It was a great opportunity to go out and showcase my ability.”"

Valdes-Scantling, who is a USF alum, landed a three-year deal worth up to $30 million in free agency from the Chiefs and should work with Smith-Schuster, Kelce, and Mecole Hardman to form a new receiving corps in Kansas City along with any rookie help that comes from this year’s draft class. Last season for the Packers, MVS had 26 catches for 430 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games for the Packers. In 2020, he led the NFL with an average of 20.9 yards/catch.