Wide Receiver With Aaron Rodgers Ties Just Hit the Market

The New York Jets have crafted their roster (and coaching staff) around Aaron Rodgers since being in talks to acquire the four-time MVP. It remains to be seen if that strategy pays off since Rodgers missed basically his entire first season in the Big Apple, but the Jets are too far down this rabbit hole to pivot now.

The 2024 offseason provides a chance to reunite with even more of his ex-teammates, and it turns out one ex-Packer is hitting the open market early.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday the Kansas City Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to free up cap space. MVS, of course, landed in Kansas City during the 2022 offseason after spending his four years in Green Bay.

Valdes-Scantling was never Rodgers' top option as a Packer, but he still got plenty of looks from the gunslinger. MVS recorded at least 50 targets in each of his four seasons playing for the green and gold, posting a total of 123 receptions, 2,153 yards and 16 touchdowns.

MVS is more of a deep-threat specialist, which prevents him from being a true WR1 or even strong WR2, but he still brings value as a supporting wideout. He's averaged an impressive 17.0 yards per reception throughout his career, including a league-leading mark of 20.9 with Rodgers as his QB in 2020.

Valdes-Scantling certainly can help open a Jets passing attack that sorely needed a field-stretcher in 2023. The big-play ability MVS adds would only make things easier for Garrett Wilson, who can't be focused on as strongly if someone like Valdes-Scantling is going over the top consistently.

Now, just because MVS has chemistry with Rodgers doesn't mean he's worth breaking the bank for. The Jets learned that lesson the hard way with Allen Lazard. But Valdes-Scantling's connection with Rodgers does make him someone worth pursuing for the right price.

In other Jets news: