The Seattle Seahawks have pulled off two of the biggest moves in the 2025 NFL offseason, trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and then agreeing to terms with Sam Darnold. Seattle also traded away wide receiver DK Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett, leaving general manager John Schneider with the task of restocking weapons for his new quarterback.
The team began reloading by recently agreeing to terms with a veteran 20-touchdown receiver.
Seahawks Agree to Terms With Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Seattle has been at the center of the NFL offseason so far, with Schneider reshaping Klint Kubiak’s offense. The new offensive coordinator will be reunited with Darnold, who was the backup during Kubiak’s one year as the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Darnold is coming off the best season of his career, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record and a playoff berth. He made the Pro Bowl last season after throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. While two poor playoff performances ended his season on a sour note, Darnold still finished No. 12 in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
To take it a step further, Darnold ranked as a top-10 weekly quarterback by QB+ six times last season and finished outside the top 20 only three times. His early career struggles were hard to overlook, but for most of 2024, Darnold played like an above-average quarterback and was rewarded as such with a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
So how will Schneider help his new signal-caller? Seattle’s offense finished 20th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric in 2024 and now has to replace Metcalf’s 48 career touchdowns.
Thus, the team agreed to sign veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, first reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing with the #Seahawks on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million, per sources.
Deal negotiated by Harold C. Lewis, Ezra Thompson and Chad Berger of @NSAFootball pic.twitter.com/Uxe40X7F8v
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2025
Pelissero tweeted, “Veteran WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing with the #Seahawks on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million, per sources. Deal negotiated by Harold C. Lewis, Ezra Thompson, and Chad Berger of @NSAFootball.”
Valdes-Scantling was a fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft and has become a journeyman over the last three seasons. The seven-year receiver signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, winning two Super Bowls. However, he managed just 315 yards and one touchdown in his final regular season with Kansas City.
MVS then signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 but was released midseason after the team acquired Amari Cooper. Valdes-Scantling ended up with the New Orleans Saints, posting 19 receptions, 411 yards, and four touchdowns between the two teams last year. For his career, he has 20 touchdowns, with 13 of them coming in Green Bay.
Valdes-Scantling now joins Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led Seattle in receiving last season with 100 catches, 1,130 yards, and six touchdowns. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet anchor the Seahawks’ ground game, while MVS should step in as the team’s No. 2 receiving option.
Big changes continue in Seattle, and they’ve now added another weapon for their new quarterback.