Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that he has no plans to make a major splash deal in free agency, but that a discounted veteran is still an option.
Following the NFL draft, there is still concern 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 an adequate 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 particularly 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 take 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 contract 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.
The Bills Could Land Marquez Valdes-Scantling at a Hefty Discount
MVS ended the regular season by catching 21 of 42 targets for 314 yards and one touchdown. As the highest-paid receiver on the Chiefs’ roster, his postseason performance was insufficient to keep him in Kansas City. In four playoff 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 may not be eager to accept a significant pay cut,” Knox wrote. “At this point in the offseason, though, he might not have a choice.”
The Bills have about $2.8 million in cap 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 hosted 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.
