The San Francisco 49ers have been needing help at the wide receiver position. With Deebo Samuel gone and Brandon Aiyuk still healing from his torn ACL, bringing in more talent around franchise quarterback Brock Purdy has been a clear priority.
On Wednesday, the 49ers were able to address that need.
According to a report from Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, San Francisco has signed veteran free agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He was recently released by the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.
Valdes-Scantling has a history against the 49ers. Back in the 2023, he played against San Francisco in the Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs. In that game, he racked up three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown.
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Now, he’ll be a part of a 49ers offense looking to get back on track. After missing the playoffs last season, the team has a clear goal of getting back into the postseason and becoming a championship contender once again.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs lines up to run a route during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs lines up to run a route during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images
Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Valdes-Scantling has shown signs of being a high-impact player throughout his career. Unfortunately, those signs have been more flashes than consistency.
Known for being a deep threat wideout, Valdes-Scantling has played in 106 regular season games throughout his career. He has totaled 205 receptions for 3,566 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 17.4 yards per reception.
Last season, the 30-year-old wide receiver played for both the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints. He ended up catching 19 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 21.6 yards per catch.
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This move might not pan out for San Francisco. Valdes-Scantling could end up being a short-term addition that the 49ers move on from.
However, it’s also possible that he’ll provide Purdy with a big play presence and become a key part of the San Francisco offense.
At the very least, it’s a clear sign that the 49ers are looking to make any move they can make to improve their chances to contend in the stacked NFC this season.
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