Strong Free Agent Market for Green Bay Packers MVS
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers are going to do their best to try and run it back once again in 2022. But even with all the salary cap-saving moves they have available to them, realistically, they aren’t going to be able to keep everyone.
One free agent who appears to have played his final snaps with the Green Bay Packers is wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Valdes-Scantling has been the Packers’ deep threat the last few seasons, which included leading the NFL with 20.9 yards per catch in 2020. This big-play ability is certainly an important element to the Green Bay offense, we know Aaron Rodgers likes to take his shots downfield, and as of now, there aren’t any other players to replace MVS’ speed and ability.
However, in addition to being able to win downfield, Valdes-Scantling’s presence also opens up the passing game for his teammates as well. Having that 4.37 speed on the field draws the attention of the safeties and provides better spacing on the field.
The playoff loss to San Francisco is a prime example of the Packers missing MVS on the field. The 49ers did not fear the deep ball, which led to everyone playing closer to the line of scrimmage, which shrunk the field, and made moving the ball through the air all the more difficult. It’s also not a coincidence that during the regular-season, the Packers produced fewer explosive plays with MVS sidelined.
"“Quez, he’s so important to this offense,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said via the Wisconsin State Journal. “Obviously, the speed, his ability to stretch the field, create some explosive plays, it gives the defense somebody else in the passing game to worry about other than Tae.”"
We’ve also seen MVS’ skill-set grow during his time with the Green Bay Packers. He became more of a factor on short and intermediate routes, and while it was a very small sample size, according to PFF ($$), he was one of the most efficient slot receivers last season by yards per route run—not to mention that he has the trust and confidence of Aaron Rodgers.
So for the reasons mentioned, MVS has developed quite the strong market in free agency. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, he projects that Valdes-Scantling could earn $10 million per year or even more in free agency. We’ve also seen a few receivers already paid more than expected. Either way, that puts him out of the Packers’ price range, given their cap restraints.
Josina Anderson would go on to report that teams with interest in Valdes-Scantling include the Raiders, Bears, 49ers, Colts, and Texans.
Assuming MVS is playing elsewhere in 2022, replacing that downfield threat will be a must this offseason for the Green Bay Packers for all the reasons we’ve discussed—the big-play ability as well as what that element is able to create for other pass-catchers.
According to Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire, a few names to watch for in the draft who could fill that role include Jalen Tolbert, Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, and Reggie Roberson.
With Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and MVS all free agents this offseason, the Packers were likely never going to be able to keep all three. They’ve since franchise-tagged Adams and tendered Lazard. We knew the tag was coming for Adams while Lazard on an RFA deal comes with a much lower price than MVS—along with everything Lazard adds to this offense.
The other receivers on the 2022 roster currently are Juwann Winfree, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Chris Blair, and Rico Gafford.