Saints ink Marquez Valdes-Scantling

NEW ORLEANS – After losing one of their top two wide receivers for the season, the New Orleans Saints have added another veteran wideout to provide some relief at the position.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Saints are signing the veteran wide receiver after his work out with the team on Monday. The Saints are in need of wide receiver help after the aforementioned loss of Shaheed. But even still, when New Orleans had its top wide receivers, finding a reliable third option was still a major question mark. 

Getting another veteran wideout in the room that the Saints have shown interest in multiple times throughout recent years is a positive move for the team. It won’t solve all their problems as Valdes-Scantling isn’t an interior protector, nor is he tasked with stopping the run game on defense. But he could be a part of what’s needed to improve play in the passing game despite the team’s health and losses.

The Saints pursued Valdes-Scantling in the offseason of 2022, but ultimately the Kansas City Chiefs offered him a more appealing deal. It was reported this offseason that the Saints were in on him again before he chose to join the Buffalo Bills. So, third time’s the charm after the veteran wide receiver was released by the Bills when they acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper via a trade last week.

The 6-foot-4, 206 lbs pass-catcher also has 4.37 speed from his NFL Combine run. He gives rookie Spencer Rattler, the presumed starter for this weekend’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a big-bodied and fast target. He should be tasked with lining up opposite star receiver Chris Olave pretty quickly. Olave is still in concussion protocol, but he should begin to progress his way back out on the field once the team returns to practice.

This may not be the big fish addition that New Orleans was pursuing when getting in on the Davante Adams sweepstakes, but the team needs help at the position and they found it on the market.