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By: Phillip P-Mac McGruder @ChiefsFocus
The Chiefs added a veteran wide receiver to their roster on Thursday, a day after trading Hill. Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed a contract with the Chiefs to a three-year, $30 million deal worth up to $36 million. With the move, Valdes-Scantling goes from the NFL’s reigning MVP in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a former MVP in Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. I know a few Packers fans that are not happy right now. Sorry Kevin and Charles! Rock Chalk forever though y’all! Valdes-Scantling tweeted his excitement at the news, writing: “I could cry real tears right now. I got cut from my high school team as a freshman to signing a second contract in the NFL. Never let any person place a limitation on who you can be. THANK YOU GOD!!! The speedy Valdes-Scantling has averaged 17.5 yards per catch since he entered the NFL in 2018, which is the fourth-highest average in the league over that span. At 6-foot-4 having run a 4.37 forty-yard dash at the Combine in 2018. By the way, the Chiefs already met with MVS at the combine that year. MVS is a big, speedy deep threat option for an accurate deep-ball thrower such as Mahomes. Valdes-Scantling’s 18.3-yard average depth of target ranking third-highest among wide receivers over the past two seasons. And while he spent much of the 2021 season dealing with injuries/COVID-19 issues, he led the NFL in yards per catch (20.9) in 2020 and was tied with Tyreek Hill for the most receiving touchdowns greater than 40 yards (4) that season. He has 123 receptions for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns in 59 career games. His value goes beyond just his individual stats. Again, He is a 6’4 receiver who runs a 4.37 forty. That’s like JJ Birden if he was 6-4 playing with Joe Montana and Marcus Allen. That Elite size and speed scares defenses. Just ask MegaTron aka Calvin Johnson. Mahomes would be able to layer the routes in a more unique manner with MVS on the field. As fans know, Patrick Mahomes does a nice job targeting the intermediate area of the field. He’s worked with Alex Smith for a year before he took over. Travis Kelce, Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster will thrive on crossing routes. With MVS on the field, Smith-Schuster, Hardman and Kelce could find themselves even more open. Defenses need to respect his ability to beat them deep, thus pulling attention away from the intermediate. If a team chooses to play MVS one-on-one, then Mahomes could target him for large gains like Aaron Rodgers did with MVS in his back to back MVP seasons but better. The Chiefs have three starting receivers in Valdes-Scantling, Smith-Schuster and Hardman. And yet, the Chiefs are willing to select a receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft, likely acquiring that prospect with a first- or second-round pick. The Chiefs now have four picks in the first two rounds, with those selections, we can add depth at several positions, including receiver, defensive line and cornerback. Some of the possible receiver prospects who could be available in the middle and late part of the first round are: Drake London from USC, Chris Olave from Ohio State, Treylon Burks from Arkansas, Jameson Williams from Alabama, George Pickens from Georgia, Christian Watson from North Dakota State. There is mid round (3-4th round) guys like Velus Jones Jr. from Tennessee, Kevin Austin Jr. and Justyn Ross from Clemson. Also there is possibility of the Chiefs adding more veterans this week maybe next. I would love to see a USC reunion of JuJu and Rojo aka Ronald Jones aka Jamaal Charles Jr., and Velus Jones Jr., who was a Trojan before he became a Vol. Just watch the USC football team from 2015 to 2016, JuJu and Rojo carried those teams. Did I mention before that Velus Jones was teammates with Trey Smith. Stay tuned for more news Chiefs Kingdom. We are going to be fine.
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It has been a wild week for the Kingdom. Just as I am finished writing how 
