The New Orleans Saints have a new face and name at wide receiver, and it’s one that you might recognize.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling joined the team this week after a workout, and he’ll potentially fill a key role after a season-ending injury to Rashid Shaheed.
"I’m just excited and I’m trying to bring a spark to this team," Valdes-Scantling said in the locker room this week. "They started off hot, 2-0, dropped the last five games so I just want to be able to come in and contribute any way I can.”
The veteran receivers, who also can be referred to more simply as “MVS,” feels comfortable in his new surroundings. His dad’s side of the family is from New Orleans and he spent plenty of time in his new NFL city as a kid. He grew up in Florida, but his grandmother in particular was a big Saints fan and she — along with several other members of the family — would certainly be excited to get into the Superdome this year.
But that’s not the only time MVS got close to the city of New Orleans. After xx years in Green Bay with the Packers, MVS hit free agency ahead of the 2022 season and was high on the Saints’ list. He was scheduled to fly down to New Orleans for a meeting after he got done with a visit to Kansas City, but that second trip never happened. The Chiefs “wouldn't let him leave” and he ultimately signed there on a three-year deal that included a pair of Super Bowl rings. MVS caught a touchdown during last year's title game win over the 49ers, and also had a pair of touchdown grabs during the previous year's Super Bowl run.
Valdes-Scantling joins a roster littered with former Chiefs, but all on the defensive side of the ball such as safety Tyrann Mathieu, LB Willie Gay and DT Khalen Saunders, all of whom have Super Bowl rings from their own time in Kansas City.
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"I’m very familiar with the area and the food and the atmosphere," MVS said, "so I’m excited to be playing and obviously I’ve been in the midwest the last 6 years of my career, so being in the warmth will be good for me.”
Better late than never, right? MVS started this season in Buffalo where he was lightly used and became expendable when the team traded with the Browns for Amari Cooper earlier this month. He participated fully in training camp and he’s been active for six games this year, so he’s in good shape despite catching just two passes for 26 yards on nine targets.
The only question is how quickly he can pick up the scheme, with the Saints in need of weapons on the outside, though they do expect to get WR Chris Olave back for Week 8 against the Chargers.
"I think it’s very difficult, because it’s, verbiage aside ... It’s the synergy with the quarterback and all the little nuances that go along with, really nothing to do with learning a playbook, it’s just the timing that it takes in the pass game, the timing that it takes with blocking, the time on task that a lot of other guys have had since April," Kubiak said, "but I will say that he’s been impressive thus far and he’s getting to know it pretty quick.”
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With Cedrick Wilson ruled out due to a hip injury, it's possible Valdez-Scantling gets his first run against the Chargers in Week 8, though it'll likely be on a limited menu of plays. Whenever he does get up to speed, MVS' premium ability comes with stretching the field. In each of his first six NFL seasons he hauled in a pass of at least 46 yards or longer, with multiple 70-yard receptions to his credit. In 2023 MVS' average depth of target was 17.8 yards downfield, which ranked No. 5 in the NFL among players with at least 25 targets. For perspective, Rashid Shaheed's average depth of target a season ago was 14.6 yards and tied for 17th.
Shaheed is out for the season, enter MVS.
"Obviously injuries is a huge part of the game, so being able to come in and just provide the big play ability that I’ve had over my whole career, I just want to get back to doing that," he said, "and being able to push the ball down the field so we can score some points.”