NFL Rumors: Saints Eye Marquez Valdes-Scantling amid Olave Injury After Amari Trade

Free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will work out for the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

The Buffalo Bills cut Valdes-Scantling after they acquired Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. His arrival in New Orleans would help stabilize a receiving corps that's without Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.

Olave is sidelined with a concussion he suffered in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Shaheed, meanwhile, required season-ending surgery after an evaluation showed a full tear of his meniscus.

Compounding matters, quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) also missed Thursday's 33-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. Spencer Rattler, his replacement, went 25-of-35 for 172 yards and was sacked six times before himself suffering a minor injury.

Valdes-Scantling appeared in 16 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 but was used sparingly in the passing game. His 21 receptions, 315 yards and one touchdown were all career lows.

The 30-year-old did step up in the postseason, catching eight passes for 128 yards and a touchdown as Kansas City successfully defended its Super Bowl title.

Even before the Cooper trade, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Valdes-Scantling in Buffalo. He failed to register a reception in any of his final games, and he was on the field for 32 percent of the Bills' offensive snaps in a 23-20 win over the New York Jets in Week 6.

The Saints badly need more depth at receiver, and Valdes-Scantling would also give them the vertical threat they lost with Shaheed gone for the year. Shaheed averaged 17.5 yards per reception to lead the team. Tight end Foster Moreau (13.6) was the next closest player.

Valdes-Scantling is averaging 16.9 yards per reception for his career and led the league in the category in 2020 (20.9).