The fact that the San Francisco 49ers are collecting former players from championship rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs isn't a bad idea. But somehow those players are from the single position from those teams with the least amount of talent: wide receiver.
The 49ers have officially signed free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a contract on Wednesday. The move comes shortly after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday at the NFL's roster cuts deadline.
The interesting wrinkle in the 49ers' signing of Valdez-Scantling is that their other recently acquired wide receiver is former Chiefs wideout Skyy Moore. The Chiefs traded Moore to the Niners in exchange for a future swap of late-round draft picks.
The 49ers are dealing with a number of concerns in the wide receiver room, so it's not surprising to see them making moves. Former Chiefs receiver Demarcus Robinson will be serving a three-game suspension to start the year. Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing have all dealt with injuries.
Still, it's a bit surprising to see former members of what was a frustrating wide receiver room finding new homes with the 49ers years after the fact. The Chiefs' offense during their championship run in 2023 featured a questionable array of pass catchers for Patrick Mahomes, which made the feat that much more impressive.
Valdes-Scantling is capable of providing a deep threat for teams, but the all-or-nothing results often prove frustrating. In Seattle, he was signed to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million with a vision of being the teams WR3. Instead, he was passed over on the depth chart and ultimately released.
As for Moore, he's a preseason flyer for the 49ers, which makes sense given his second-round pedigree. Chiefs GM Brett Veach loves to take similar shots at low-risk, high-upside players. Expect Moore to primarily serve the Niners on special teams as a return option.
If the 49ers continue to have issues at wideout, they're also free to check in on Kadarius Toney or Richie James.