Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht can usually do no wrong. However, fortunately for him and the Krewe, his questionable reported interest in veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was bailed out by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Valdes-Scantling began the 2025 NFL campaign with the San Francisco 49ers. He was placed on injured reserve with a calf issue and subsequently released a day later before ultimately choosing to sign with the Steelers. His connection to veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers ostensibly drove him to Pittsburgh, though the Buccaneers were among the documented suitors in the mix.
Why the Buccaneers had sights on Valdes-Scantling was obvious, considering the current state of their receiving corps. Nevertheless, NFL insider Jordan Schultz mentioned Tampa Bay as one of a "few teams that showed interest" in him before he reunited with Rodgers.
Jason Licht almost made a bet Buccaneers fans were begging him not to take
Mike Evans' broken collarbone and Chris Godwin's bumpy recovery from a disclocated ankle and fractured fibula are complicating things in Tampa Bay. It's put a significant onus on first-round rookie standout Emeka Egbuka, who picked up a "low-grade" hamstring strain he's managed to play through, albeit ineffectively.
Licht's judgment was seemingly clouded by Evans and Godwin's unavailability and a desire to take some responsibility off Egbuka's plate before he gets hurt. Yet, Valdes-Scantling is merely a sacrificial X receiver at this stage in his career who would hardly fix the ongoing problems in Tampa Bay.
Here's where Valdes-Scantling ranks in the following metrics this season out of 134 receivers through Week 8's Sunday slate (minimum 50 routes run):
- 126th in targets per route run (0.10)
- 129th in yards per route run (0.49)
- 129th in yards after the catch per reception (1.25)
- 134th in receiving first downs per route run (0.012)
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite.
The Bucs can greatly benefit from bringing in another pass-catcher, just not MVS. For any baseball fans out there, he's football's version of an innings eater, but a fruitless one. His inability to create separation and generate looks, let alone turn opportunities into production is far from what Tampa Bay need.
Across five games with the 49ers this year, Valdes-Scantling, 31, recorded four receptions for 40 scoreless yards. He functioned as a part-time option in a similarly banged-up receiving room in San Francisco to the Bucs'.