The Seattle Seahawks made some shocking moves this offseason, but almost all on the offensive side of the ball. While general manager John Schneider is in charge of the final roster, he also obviously gets input from head coach Mike Macdonald. And what is clear is that Schneider and Macdonald did not like what they saw from the offense in 2024.
Quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf were traded, and receiver Tyler Lockett was released. Sam Darnold was signed to be the new QB1, and Cooper Kupp to be WR2. Veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was signed, too, but his status is more mercurial.
Will he be WR3, or will he fall on the depth chart because Seattle has better options? Heck, maybe he even falls completely off the roster, though that is less likely.
Seattle Seahawks free agent signee Marque Valdes-Scantling might be nervous about his job
The problem for Valdes-Scantling is that throughout his seven-year career, he has shown an ability to be explosive, but he has also proven he cannot be counted on as a safe receiver. He has caught just 49.5 percent of his passes. He can score a 90-yard touchdown catch, and then not catch a ball for two quarters consistently.
His status on his new team is complicated. He isn't going to help on special teams, and a player who might be WR4 at best needs to help in the third phase. He has likely been passed on the receiver depth chart by rookie Tory Horton, who has had a magnificent training camp and was good in preseason Week 1.
Other receivers, such as Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, and Cody White, all play special teams and do so well. That versatility might give them an advantage in a tight roster race. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kupp, and Horton are locks. Maybe MVS is, too, but he is almost certainly WR4 early in the 2025 season.
Head coach Mike Macdonald implied that there could be an open roster battle from WR4 on after practice this week.
The coach told the media when asked what a receiver needed to do to make the team, "Take advantage of their opportunities, one. We’re going to be in a lot of 21 personnel (two backs), 12 (two tight ends), 13 (three tight ends), 22 (two backs, two tight ends), so special teams is going to be a big part of it as well, on who ends up grabbing their helmets on Sundays for us."
In previous seasons under different offensive coordinators, the Seattle Seahawks used a lot more three wide receiver sets. Going with many more two wide receiver packages beginning in 2025 means fewer reps for receivers overall. This puts a premium on the receiver roster spots. Perhaps Seattle keeps one less receiver than they would have previously.
If that happens, free agent acquisition Marquez Valdes-Scantling should be nervous about his roster spot. He probably will make the team, but the Seattle Seahawks have done more surprising things than cut a 30-year-old receiver who was falling down the depth chart.
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