After losing Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was eager to welcome new receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to Kansas City.
The Chiefs receiving corps looks more different in 2022 than anyone would have initially expected.
Kansas City traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. They signed JuJu Smith-Schuster from the Steelers. And now they’ve found another new target in former Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Soon after the team came to an agreement with the receiver on a three-year deal worth $30 million, Patrick Mahomes reacted positively.
Patrick Mahomes welcomed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the Chiefs
Valdes-Scantling is used to catching passes from an MVP quarterback. He spent his first four years in the league in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers. However, he’s not exactly a like-for-like replacement for Hill.
Hill was Mahomes leading wide receiver in each year of his career so far, including three 1,200 yard receiving seasons.
By comparison, Valdes-Scantling’s career-high for receiving yards in a season was 690 in 2020.
Granted, Valdes-Scantling was one of several Packers receivers who played second fiddle to Davante Adams. He may have more to give in an offense that, as of now, has no clear No. 1 receiver.
At the very least, he has shown big-play ability and can stretch the field with great speed for a 6-foot-4 pass catcher.
The Chiefs will have to see how the new-look receiving corps shakes out once they get on the field.
Smith-Schuster could prove himself as the guy for the Chiefs but he was at his best playing alongside Antonio Brown in 2017 and 2018. A partnership with Valdes-Scantling and Smith-Schuster could yield more than just an overflow of hyphenated names.
Mecole Hardman is Kansas City’s leading returning wide receiver. He’s coming off a season with 693 yards and could push for a bigger role as well.