The Los Angeles Chargers have ushered in a new chapter this offseason with the appointments of Joe Hortiz as the general manager and Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. However, this transition has been accompanied by the departure of key veterans such as Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler, resulting in a reduction of top-tier talent on the offensive front.
Justin Herbert may find himself disheartened by the recent developments. Suddenly, the offensive arsenal at his disposal seems lacking, diminishing the team’s potential for a potent offense in the upcoming season. Consequently, the Chargers are actively exploring the market to provide their star quarterback with capable pass-catching options. In their search, they have reportedly shown interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a two-time Super Bowl champion previously with a divisional rival.
As per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Chargers are eyeing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has spent the past two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite facing criticism from Chiefs supporters for occasional dropped catches and errors, Valdes-Scantling remains a formidable deep threat, consistently averaging over 15 yards per reception throughout his six-year tenure in the league. Additionally, he has demonstrated his ability to elevate his performance in crucial matchups, contributing three postseason touchdowns for Kansas City over the past two seasons.
Valdez-Scantling offers the speed and seasoned expertise absent in the current Chargers’ receiving corps. At 29, he could be secured on a one-year veteran contract, and there’s no doubt MVS possesses the potential to exceed expectations under such terms. Considering the team’s constrained cap space, the Chargers could find few better options.
Despite the Chargers (+350) being slated behind the Chiefs (-220) in AFC West victory odds for the upcoming season, acquiring MVS isn’t likely to alter these odds significantly. Therefore, the Chargers must strategize extensively around draft time to bolster their prospects for success.
