6 takeaways from Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s intro press conference

The Kansas City Chiefs have officially announced the signing of former Green Bay Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Valdes-Scantling spoke to local media members for the first time on Friday. He spoke about himself and explained several of the motivating factors behind his decision to sign with Kansas City.

What else did we learn about Valdes-Scantling during his introductory press conference? Find out more below:

Patrick Mahomes wanted Valdes-Scantling in Kansas City

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Not only did Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes help sign, seal and deliver Valdes-Scantling to Kansas City, but he’s also been in near-constant contact with him from the moment he touched down for his visit with the team. They’re already talking about getting some work in together during the offseason down in Texas, where Mahomes typically trains.

“He called me as soon as I landed in Kansas City and told me how badly he wanted me out there,” Valdes-Scantling told reporters of Mahomes. “That was good, to even just hear that. As soon as I signed, he was one of the first people to call me and reach out and say how excited he was. Then, we talked about possibly coming down to Texas and getting some throws in with him and some of the other guys. Obviously, OTAs are going to be right around the corner.”

It was a tough decision for Valdes-Scantling to walk away from the familiarity of the Packers, but he saw playing with Mahomes as a life-changing decision.

“Me and Aaron (Rodgers) have a great relationship,” Valdes-Scantling said. “It was really tough to walk away because I still had that opportunity on the table, to go in and play with him for the rest of his career, however long that may be. . . Walking away from that opportunity and walking into one with a very similar quarterback, obviously talent-wise, they’ve both won MVPs, they’ve both won Super Bowls. . . I think having this opportunity with Pat (Mahomes) is going to be life-changing.”

Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy played a role in his decision

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Playing with Mahomes wasn’t the only driving factor behind Valdes-Scantling’s decision. He also wanted to play in an offense tailored by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy because of their reputations across the league.

“Coach Reid has been successful for a very, very long time,” Valdes-Scantling said. “One of the best offensive-minded coaches. Same with EB (Eric Bieniemy). I think they’ve done a great job over the past four years that I’ve been in the league of having one of the top offenses year in and year out. Having a coach like that, who can get guys the ball is always important. He’s figuring out ways, no matter what coverage they’re in, to get guys the ball and that’s huge.”

He turned down more money elsewhere to play (and win) in KC

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Money was the deciding factor for Tyreek Hill forcing his way out of Kansas City and into Miami, but Valdes-Scantling says he actually left more money on the table to come and play with the Chiefs. They weren’t even in the picture until the trade to send Hill to the Dolphins began to develop.

“Kansas City wasn’t really on my radar, and my agent called me and said, ‘Hey, Tyreek (Hill) may be traded out of there. Would you be interested in hearing what they have to say?’ I said, ‘Yeah, 100%’ I’ve been talking to a bunch of teams for a week, and I’ve been just waiting everything out, trying to make the best decision. Doing a lot of praying about it. The opportunity came, and I said, ‘Yeah, of course, I’d be interested. I would love to play with Pat, they’re doing a lot of great things, competing for championships year in and year out. I turned down a bunch of other deals for more money because I just didn’t want to go and lose. I’m super competitive and it’s not always about the money.”

When it came down to it, winning and fit were most important to Valdes-Scantling.

“My top-two teams were New Orleans and the Packers, and then the Chiefs,” Valdes-Scantling said. “The finances weren’t a huge factor when it comes to the longevity of it. . . I think it was moreso, what was the best place for me to do what I wanted to do as a player.

He's not here to replace Tyreek Hill

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Valdes-Scantling is a speedy receiver, but he’s not in Kansas City to “replace” Tyreek Hill. That said, Valdes-Scantling feels Hill’s departure certainly opens up an opportunity for him to make an impact right away.

“I think with the departure of (Tyreek Hill), it gave me a really good opportunity to be in a position to come in and be an immediate impact right away.”

He wasn’t pitched on “replacing” Hill, but instead on the opportunity to be a part of something great that they’re building in Kansas City.

“I was pitched on the opportunity,” Valdes-Scantling explained. “It wasn’t about, ‘You’re going to be WR1, you’re going to come in and do exactly what Tyreek did for us.’ We’re different players. I was pitched on the opportunity that (I) can come in and contribute and be a part of something special. That was what was attractive, and obviously, a great quarterback and winning organization.”

Valdes-Scantling is more than a deep threat

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His 17.5 yards per reception average spanning a four-year career might tell you that Valdes-Scantling is a deep threat. While that might be an area of his game that he excels at, he firmly believes that it’s not the only thing he can excel at on his new team.

“Well, obviously, I’ve been a top deep threat in the league for my four years in my career,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Those stats speak for themselves, but I’m not limited to just that. I think that Coach Reid does a really good job of getting his playmakers the ball and I think with having Pat (Mahomes) under center and Coach Reid calling those plays, I think I’ll fit right in.”

Right now, Valdes-Scantling doesn’t know what his exact role within the offense will be. That said, he has an idea of the player that he wants to be and can be with the Chiefs.

“I can’t tell you the exact role that I’ll have,” Valdes-Scantling said. “I can’t really see into the future. But I know the player that I am and I know the type of player that I want to continue to grow to be. I think that just walking into this building, looking at the roster, they had a lot of turnover in their wideout room in the last few weeks. Their top four or three guys are all gone, outside of Mecole (Hardman). So, just walking into the building with this opportunity, I think that I provide a spark. Obviously, being in the league for 4 years, playing with Aaron (Rodgers), I know what (success) looks like. Obviously, playing with Davante (Adams), I’ve learned so much from him. I think that, you know, my skillset will speak for itself come Sundays.”

Valdes-Scantling definitely has a chip on his shoulder.

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Valdes-Scantling tweeted shortly after he’d signed his deal about getting cut as a Freshman in high school. He spoke a little more about the impact that situation had on him on Friday.

“Just believing in myself,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Obviously, as a freshman (in high school), I wasn’t good enough to make the team. I had to take accountability, stop pointing the finger at everybody else. . . and have to say that I’ve got to be better. Once I did that and used that as self-motivation. . . I took that and ran with it. I’ve been self-motivated ever since. I think it has paid off for me.”

Valdes-Scantling says that he’s not out to prove doubters wrong, but instead working to prove himself right.

“It’s never about proving somebody else wrong, it’s about proving ourselves right,” Valdes-Scantling said. “We wouldn’t be in that room if we couldn’t play football. At the end of the day, the Chiefs all believe in us and we all believe in ourselves and that’s our primary focus, to be the best version of ourselves.”

There are already Chiefs fans out there who are doubting Valdes-Scantling, but he expects it at this point of his career.

“I’ve been doubted at every level that I’ve played at,” Valdes-Scantling said. “And you know, I’ve been able to overcome it.”

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