The Seattle Seahawks revamped their offense this offseason following a 10-7 finish in 2024. They traded quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf while releasing receiver Tyler Lockett.
Seattle turned around and signed Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as they look to replace the production from the trio. While the first two players both received three-year pacts, the latter was signed to a one-year deal.
Kupp figures to start opposite Jaxon Smith-Njigba, however, Valdes-Scantling's role with the Seahawks remains unclear. A recent report suggested that Seattle should move the veteran wide receiver.
Seahawks predicted to move Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a late-round draft pick
The Seahawks signed Valdes-Scantling with the expectation that he would be the third wide receiver on their depth chart. The eighth-year veteran spent the 2024 season with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints, recording 411 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 19 receptions.
Following the emergence of young talent, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report suggested that Seattle send Valdes-Scantling to the Minnesota Vikings for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, writing:
"With unheralded weapons like Dareke Young, Jake Bobo, and rookie Tory Horton making waves in training camp, free-agent addition Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be expendable. While the Seahawks added MVS when it appeared they would lack playmakers around star wideout Jaxson Smith-Njigba, the emergence of these youthful pass-catchers—along with the high-profile addition of Cooper Kupp—leaves the aging receiver on the roster's fringes. Rather than release the 30-year-old, the Seahawks should take what they can get from a team with a clear void in the receiving corps. The Vikings are a perfect trade partner due to the injury and suspension issues that recently ravaged the position."
Valdes-Scantling does not appear to have a clear path to playing time with the Seahawks. In fact, he appears to be on the verge of being released, and Seattle should be happy to get any type of draft compensation for a player that may not even be on the roster next week.
While the wide receiver room looked like a weakness following the departure of Metcalf and Lockett, it suddenly looks like a strength entering the final week of the preseason. Smith-Njigba and Kupp provide the Seahawks with enough of an established presence to trust their young talent.
The latter does have an injury history; however, at this point, it appears that Valdes-Scantling simply does not have a role in Seattle.
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