Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Seahawks Release, Now with Cowboys

Few NFL wide receivers have packed as many jersey changes into a single year as Marquez Valdes‑Scantling. In 2025 alone, the veteran pass‑catcher went from signing with the Seattle Seahawks to being released before the regular season, then bouncing between the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers — and now he’s landing with the Dallas Cowboys for 2026.

Current team: Dallas Cowboys ·
Position: Wide receiver ·
Height / weight: 6 ft 4 in / 206 lb ·
College: South Florida ·
NFL debut: 2018 ·
Super Bowl wins: 1 (LVII)

Eight teams in eight seasons — the pattern tells the story of a deep‑threat specialist whose production has never quite matched his athletic gifts.

Why did the Seahawks release Marquez Valdes‑Scantling?

Performance and salary cap reasons

• Seattle signed Valdes‑Scantling to a one‑year, $4 million contract on March 13, 2025 (Seahawks), with $3 million guaranteed (ESPN).
• Just five months later, on August 26, 2025, Seattle released him before final roster cuts (ESPN).
• The move saved Seattle $3 million in cap space — the guaranteed money had already been paid, so the remainder of the salary came off the books.

Reception struggles in the 2024 season

• Valdes‑Scantling had only 8 catches for 106 yards in 2024 across three teams (ESPN).
• That decline in productivity continued into training camp 2025 — he failed to separate himself in a crowded Seahawks receiving room that included DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith‑Njigba.

The trade‑off: Seattle invested $3 million in guaranteed money for a veteran who could stretch the field, but when the early returns in camp didn’t justify the cap hit, the front office cut bait quickly.

Where is Marquez Valdes‑Scantling now?

Signed with Dallas Cowboys in April 2026

• Valdes‑Scantling signed a one‑year deal with the Dallas Cowboys in April 2026 (Dallas Cowboys).
• The contract is expected to count $1.26 million against the cap with $188,000 guaranteed, per Pro Football Rumors (league source).
• Listed at 6‑4 and 206 pounds, he wears No. 11 and enters his ninth NFL season at age 31 (Cowboys roster).

Role in Cowboys offense

• Dallas’s receiving corps is led by CeeDee Lamb, with Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert competing for snaps. Valdes‑Scantling projects as a depth receiver and special teams contributor.
• His value lies in his deep‑ball history — in 2020 he averaged 20.9 yards per catch (Pro Football Reference).

What this means: For a team that lost Michael Gallup and has struggled to find a consistent third receiver, MVS offers a low‑cost flier with a known ceiling but also a low floor. The Cowboys are betting on a fresh start and health.

How many teams has Marquez Valdes‑Scantling played for?

Team timeline: Packers, Chiefs, Bills, Saints, Seahawks, 49ers, Steelers, Cowboys

• Green Bay Packers (2018–2021): Drafted in the 5th round (174th overall) in 2018 (Pro Football Reference). Career‑high 690 yards in 2020.
• Kansas City Chiefs (2022–2023): Won Super Bowl LVII; 69 catches for 981 yards and 4 TDs over two seasons.
• Buffalo Bills (2024): 6 games, 4 catches, 51 yards.
• New Orleans Saints (2024): 3 games, 2 catches, 28 yards.
• Seattle Seahawks (2025): Signed in March, released in August before playing a regular‑season snap.
• San Francisco 49ers (2025): Signed to practice squad after release; played 5 games.
• Pittsburgh Steelers (2025): Elevated to active roster; 5 games, 10 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD.
• Dallas Cowboys (2026–present): Signed one‑year deal in April 2026.

The pattern: Eight teams in eight seasons — a journeyman whose deep‑threat skill set keeps getting chances, but whose production rarely sticks for more than a season.

What ethnicity is Marquez Valdes‑Scantling?

Family background and heritage

• Valdes‑Scantling was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, to an African‑American mother and a father of Cuban descent (Wikipedia).
• He played college football at South Florida, where he graduated with a degree in communication sciences and disorders.

Why this matters: His mixed heritage is often a curiosity for fans, but it has no bearing on his on‑field performance. More relevant is his path from a mid‑major college to a Super Bowl ring.

Marquez Valdes‑Scantling career stats and contract details

Receiving stats by season

One season, one snapshot — the numbers show a classic boom‑or‑bust deep threat:

(Sources: Pro Football Reference and ESPN)

Contract history and earnings

• Rookie deal (2018–2021): ~$2.7 million total.
• Chiefs (2022–2023): 3‑year, $30 million extension — $24 million guaranteed.
• Seahawks (2025): 1‑year, $4 million ($3M guaranteed).
• Cowboys (2026): 1‑year, $1.26 million cap hit ($188K guaranteed) – Pro Football Rumors.

The trade‑off: After a $30 million extension in Kansas City, Valdes‑Scantling has taken three consecutive one‑year deals at decreasing value. That’s the market reality for a receiver whose production hasn’t matched his measurables.

Timeline: Marquez Valdes‑Scantling career

• October 10, 1994: Born in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• 2014–2017: Played college football at South Florida.
• April 2018: Drafted by Green Bay Packers (5th round, 174th overall) – Pro Football Reference.
• 2018–2021: Four seasons with Packers; career‑high 690 yards in 2020.
• 2022–2023: Two seasons with Kansas City Chiefs; won Super Bowl LVII.
• 2024: Stints with Bills, Saints, and Seahawks (8 catches, 106 yards).
• March 13, 2025: Signed one‑year, $4M deal with Seahawks (Seahawks).
• August 26, 2025: Released by Seahawks before final cuts (ESPN).
• September–December 2025: Signed with 49ers practice squad, later elevated by Steelers; 14 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD.
• April 2026: Signed one‑year contract with Dallas Cowboys (Dallas Cowboys).

Clarity check: What’s confirmed and what’s still unknown

Quotes and perspectives

“The Seahawks are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes‑Scantling, a source told ESPN.”

— ESPN (team source)

“The Dallas Cowboys have signed WR Marquez Valdes‑Scantling to a one‑year contract for the 2026 season.”

— Dallas Cowboys official announcement

“Veteran WR Marquez Valdes‑Scantling explains why he signed with 49ers over Steelers: ‘I felt like San Francisco was the best fit for me.’”

— NFL.com

“Valdes‑Scantling has amassed 3,155 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over eight NFL seasons.”

— Wikipedia (career summary)

The thread connecting these voices: MVS remains a credible NFL receiver based on his speed and Super Bowl experience, but every team that has signed him recently has done so with guarded optimism — and has usually moved on within a year.

Summary

Marquez Valdes‑Scantling’s career is a case study in how the NFL treats one‑dimensional deep threats. He has the ring, the highlight reel, and the measurables, but his production has been in steady decline since 2020. For the Dallas Cowboys, the bet is simple: a minimum‑salary flier on a 31‑year‑old who still runs a 4.3 40. If he wins a roster spot and contributes 20‑30 catches, the contract is a bargain. If not, the cap hit is negligible. For MVS himself, the 2026 season is likely his last real chance to prove he can still be a rotational piece on a contender — or he faces the reality of another training‑camp battle in 2027.

Frequently asked questions

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