After six games and somehow getting to a 4-2 record, the Buffalo Bills made arguably one of the best trades this season where they acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. Brandon Beane decided to act on trading for Cooper after the New York Jets traded for Davante Adams.
Cooper made an immediate impact for the Bills in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. Without even getting a full week of practice with the Bills, Cooper managed to reel in 4 catches off of 5 targets for 66 yards and his first touchdown as a Bill. He managed to get into the endzone first as a member of the team before Curtis Samuel.
While the hype of getting Cooper was fantastic, it did mean that the Bills had to make room for him. In exchange for receiving Cooper, the Bills decided to release wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Buffalo signed Valdes-Scantling in the offseason, hoping he would become a deep threat for the offense. However, he was quite the opposite.
In six games, Valdes-Scantling had two receptions for 26 yards. It’s no surprise that he was the odd man out. He would then sign with the New Orleans Saints, who were in a need for wide receiver help. It was a bit surprising that he didn’t go back to the Kansas City Chiefs, who also needed receiver help as well.
MVS has already made a huge impact in Saints offense
The last two games, Valdes-Scantling has had five total catches but for 196 yards and three touchdowns. He has become a true deep threat for the Saints and this just shows that he was not utilized properly in Buffalo.
While he was never going to be the number one option for the Bills, not utilizing him right in Buffalo’s fault. He was never used to open up the field and his presence was almost nonexistent. Now with New Orleans, he has played a major role in helping the Saints hard-earned wins.
Even if Buffalo still didn’t utilize him correctly, he would have atleast served as depth which the Bills have needed with the receiver injuries to Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman. Things are working out for both Buffalo and MVS, but who knows if he would have made a bog contribution if Buffalo would have just used him correctly in the offense.