Marquez Valdes-Scantling will always be remembered for making one of the touchdowns in a highly memorable Super Bowl. However, this catch, which contributed to the Kansas City Chiefs winning their third NFL championship in five years, may be his final catch while playing for the team.
During the regular season, Valdes-Scantling’s performance was lackluster. In Week 7, he caught 3 passes for 84 yards and scored a touchdown, which turned out to be his only score of the season. This was his highest number of catches and yards in a single game, as he never caught more than 2 passes or gained more than 48 yards in any other game in 2023.
Despite his significant catch on the grandest stage, the Chiefs have a financial incentive to part ways with him this off-season. Valdes-Scantling is set to earn $14 million in 2024, a figure that does not align with his production. Fortunately for Kansas City, his dead cap number is relatively low. If the team decides to release or trade him before the start of the season, they would only be responsible for $2 million in 2024, resulting in a savings of approximately $12 million.
For a team in need of a reliable wide receiver to support Patrick Mahomes, saving money at that specific position would be crucial and something that Kansas City is unlikely to overlook. Valdes-Scantling has been forgiven for his previous mistakes earlier in the season, but the team’s financial considerations will heavily influence their decision.
This is just one of the many choices that the Chiefs’ front office will face during the NFL off-season. They will need to allocate funds for Chris Jones (if they choose to retain him) and address the situation with their cornerbacks, who either receive inadequate compensation or do not have a contract at all.
Currently, Kansas City’s financial situation is favorable. They are expected to have over $23 million in available salary cap space for the off-season, surpassing the league average of $17 million. However, this number is likely to decrease once they address the contracts of players like Jones, the cornerbacks, and Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey, who will soon be due for a new contract.
According to the Source sportslens.com