The #Chiefs are signing former #Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a three-year, $30 million deal with $18 million in the first two years and incentives to reach a maximum of $36 million, his agents @NSAFootball tell @RapSheet and me. 💰💰
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 24, 2022
The Green Bay Packers’ need at wide receiver grew on Thursday. Like Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is heading to the AFC West after signing a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The deal is worth at least $30 million and will pay out $18 million during the first two seasons.
Valdes-Scantling, a fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2018, caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns while in Green Bay. With terrific speed, he became a dangerous deep threat for Aaron Rodgers in the Matt LaFleur offense.
In Kansas City, Valdes-Scantling will help the Chiefs replace speedster Tyreek Hill, who was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
In Green Bay, his departure leaves the Packers razor-thin at wide receiver. As of Thursday afternoon, the team’s top two receivers are Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, with Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor and Juwann Winfree as the next three in terms of experience.
The Packers will need to aggressively rebuild the position. A trade for a veteran receiver makes more and more sense. The Packers also have four picks in the top 60 of next month’s draft, providing plenty of draft capital to use on a receiver.
Valdes-Scantling played in 59 career games with the Packers. His deal with the Chiefs will likely provide the Packers with a compensatory pick in the 2023 draft.