All season long Valdes-Scantling has been an unsung hero as he set a career-high in catches with 42 for 687 yards and 2 TDs.
When the Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency this past offseason, the sentiment among the team’s fan base was a lot of mixed feelings. The Chiefs had just traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins and many fans thought, “This is who we’re signing to fill the void? Just a solid deep threat with the Green Bay Packers that has questionable hands? All right.”
Valdes-Scantling had been okay with the Packers and was a suitable wide receiver two or three. However, Chiefs fans were maybe a little worried that he wasn’t quite ready for the role that the Chiefs were ready to give him. He, along with fellow free agent JuJu Smith-Schuster, was expected to make up a lot of lost production.
All season long Valdes-Scantling has been an unsung hero as he set a career-high in catches with 42 for 687 yards and 2 touchdowns. He came up huge several times throughout the year with massive catches, and when the Chiefs needed a big play over the top of the defense, they could typically count on MVS to make that play.
Yes, Valdes-Scantling could have his frustrating drops. He would make a circus catch one play only to drop a simple slant the next, but you could live with it because he could make the big ones and the tough ones.
The AFC title game was the culmination of that. Valdes-Scantling stepped up in the biggest game of the season when no one else could or would. MVS led all Chiefs receivers with 6 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown and found himself carrying the offense with everyone else ailing due to injury. He earned his contract and all the praise from Chiefs fans. The Chiefs simply don’t win the AFC Championship without MVS or his big touchdown in the second half.
Mahomes extends the play and finds #Chiefs Marquez Valdes-Scantling on third down pic.twitter.com/cVYmGo165P
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) January 30, 2023
In a way, Valdes-Scantling has kind of become the new Sammy Watkins. Overpaid? Maybe. Frustrating? Absolutely. Hugely important player to the offense that has come up big in the playoffs? Yes. There were a lot of people who just kind of assumed Valdes-Scantling wouldn’t be here next year because he has such a team-friendly contract that can be moved on quickly to save money, but that shouldn’t be the mentality anymore. Valdes-Scantling deserves to remain on this roster next year especially with Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore as the only receivers under contract.
Valdes-Scantling has had his ups and downs, but he came through when it mattered. No matter what happens the rest of this postseason, his contributions cannot be taken for granted and Chiefs fans everywhere should be giving him his flowers or apologizing.