Green Bay Packers “Definitely” want Marquez Valdes-Scantling Back

“Definitely.” That was the word used by Marquez Valdes-Scantling when Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire asked him if the Green Bay Packers wanted him back next season.

Valdes-Scantling would also go on to add that he wants to return to the Green Bay Packers even if Aaron Rodgers is playing elsewhere next season.

The 2021 season was, unfortunately, filled with missed time for MVS. He would appear in just 11 games after spending time on IR early one with a hamstring injury. He would also miss the playoff game after tweaking his back against Detroit in Week 18. Valdes-Scantling would finish the season with 26 receptions for 430 yards and three touchdowns.

With his 4.37 speed, Valdes-Scantling is always going to be known for his big-play ability. He led the NFL in 2020, averaging 20.9 yards per catch on 33 receptions. This season, on passes that traveled at least 20 yards, MVS averaged 43.5 yards per catch–the seventh most in football.

While there are certainly other players on this Green Bay Packers team who can create big plays, none can do exactly what Valdes-Scantling does. It’s not a coincidence that Green Bay’s offense went from finishing second in Sharp Football’s explosive play rate to 10th this past season–which is certainly still effective but not nearly to the level it was at a season ago when MVS was completely healthy.

The deep ball is Valdes-Scantling’s bread and butter, but with that speed and the attention that he draws, he also helps create for his teammates as well. We also saw MVS much more effective on intermediate routes over the middle, and although it was a very small sample size, he was incredibly efficient from the slot, averaging 3.11 yards per route run, the 11th most in football, according to PFF ($$).

On top of that, there’s the willingness and the blocking ability that Valdes-Scantling brings to the run game. On many of the big runs from Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon, you will find MVS blocking downfield–something that is vital to this offense but difficult to quantify.

For the Green Bay Packers, they enter the 2022 offseason with only three receivers under contract at the moment. Those players would be Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, and Chris Blair, with Cobb possibly ending up as a cap casualty. Then there is the salary cap situation, which I’m sure you are all somewhat familiar with. Over the Cap has Green Bay at $50.7 million over the salary cap.

This is certainly going to lead to a number of difficult decisions, but as we have discussed before, it’s all about give and take–meaning if the Packers want MVS back, they can make it work; there will just have to be a corresponding cap move or two. And when it comes to those potential cap moves, there are plenty of options out there for Green Bay–whether that be via contract extensions, restructures, or veteran cuts.

Valdes-Scantling’s career had plenty of ups and downs early on, but he has developed into much more than just a deep threat, and perhaps more importantly, he has the trust of Rodgers.

"“The person is in a way different head space,” Rodgers said via SI prior to the season starting. “I think he is so settled mentally. Very clear, very present. There’s habits that go along with that, and I think they’re interchangeable – personal and professional. He’s become a true professional. There were times a couple of years ago where we didn’t know if we could count on him because he was inconsistent in his practice habits and his daily habits almost. But that’s not the Marquez that I know now.”"