Decisions, decisions for the Seattle Seahawks at the wide receiver position. Based on training camp reports and preseason games, it seems like the roster locks are Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, rookie Tory Horton, and fan favorite Jake Bobo. Free agent signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling seemed like someone favored to make the roster given his $4 million contract and $3 million in guaranteed money, but it’s looking a little less certain that he’ll be a Seahawk come next Tuesday’s roster cuts deadline.
Cutting the Super Bowl champion deep ball threat seems a little bit impractical, as the Seahawks would have to eat the signing bonus + guaranteed money and only save $955,000 in cap space. Trading him, however, would mean someone else takes that $1.5 million salary.
I mention the possibility of an MVS trade only because of recent reports indicating interest from several teams in the wide receiver trade market.
I think the “revival” of MVS in the New Orleans Saints offense needs a little bit more context. Yes, when Derek Carr was healthy, MVS caught 12 of his 17 targets for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns over the span of five games. When Spencer Rattler and (briefly) Jake Haener were under center, only 5 of Valdes-Scantling’s 17 targets were caught.
Obviously, Rattler and Haener are downgrades from Carr. Reviewing all of his targets, the worries about MVS’ drops and losing at the catch point continue to be merited.
Did current Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak really figure out how to use MVS or did the Saints have no other choice because their other top receivers were hurt? These were the receptions leaders from Valdes-Scantling’s time in New Orleans:
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Notice anything? I count two tight ends, a running back, and a utility player as the top four before you get to MVS. The remaining wide receivers are Dante Pettis, Kevin Austin, Cedrick Wilson Jr, and Chris Olave before he got concussed into the offseason.
There were some great plays by MVS in which he showcased his upside as a downfield and run-after-catch threat, but he’s not providing much else, and I don’t think he’s going to rank anywhere in the top five for targets if he stays in Seattle. The one thing in his favor is that he can take the top off the defense with his speed in ways that the other top Seahawks receivers either can’t or haven’t yet proven at this level. I’m not sure there’s much of anything else that makes him stand out; he doesn’t play any special teams, which may be an issue relative to his immediate competition
If teams like the Vikings are looking for a veteran receiver, MVS fits the bill with over 200 receptions and a 17.4 yards per catch average. If the Seahawks are already on the hook for his $1.5 million signing bonus, his cap number (which is hardly a bank-breaker and not even top 50 among WRs this year) becomes more palatable for an interested team. Any return for Valdes-Scantling would surely be nothing more than a late Day 3 pick, and maybe the Seahawks would do a Day 3 pick swap if they want to get off his contract without cutting him.
When Valdes-Scantling was signed in free agency, the Seahawks had already traded DK Metcalf and cut Tyler Lockett, but the draft was still over a month away. After adding Cooper Kupp, it was logical to assume he would be WR3. If not for the instant rise of Tory Horton to the point where he’s getting first-team reps, I think MVS would’ve been safe to be a part of this offense.
The future of MVS depends on how much confidence the Seahawks have in their younger (aka cheaper) talent like Horton, as well as whether or not the coaching staff’s belief and praise of MVS throughout the offseason is just standard coach speak. I believe it’s distinctly possible that Valdes-Scantling is elsewhere come this time next week, but it’d be via trade and not an outright release.
