With the NFL season underway, the Kansas City Chiefs are parting ways with a key contributor their Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. In making the move, Kansas City will save $12 million in salary cap space.
Originally selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Valdes-Scantling spent the first four years of his career establishing himself as one of the league’s top deep threats while playing alongside Aaron Rodgers. Following the 2021 season, he signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Chiefs, who hoped that the South Florida product could replace some of the speed lost by the trade that sent Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins.
In his debut season with Kansas City, Valdes-Scantling caught a career-high 42 passes for 687 yards and two touchdowns and recorded six receptions for 116 yards and a score in the Chiefs’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game. His 2023 campaign, however, proved disappointing, as he notched career lows with 21 receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown in 16 regular-season games.
Nevertheless, the 29-year-old still managed to put together a productive postseason. His 16-yard touchdown reception toward the end of the third quarter gave Kansas City a 13-10 lead over the 49ers in what proved to be the Chiefs’ second Super Bowl victory in as many years.
Despite his postseason heroics, Kansas City’s decision to cut Valdes-Scantling heading into the final year of his three-year contract hardly comes as a surprise in what will be a busy offseason for the defending Super Bowl champs. On Wednesday, Fowler reported that the Chiefs planned to place their franchise tag on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, with the intent of either signing him to a long-term deal or trading him.
