Marquez Valdes-Scantling has confirmed prior stories that he may have signed with both the Steelers or the 49ers after he did not make the Seahawks‘ preliminary 53-man roster. The 30-year-old wideout finally selected to affix the 49ers’ observe squad as a substitute of going to Pittsburgh, the place he would have reunited along with his former Packers teammate, Aaron Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling stated his choice to go to San Francisco wasn’t private. It was simply enterprise.
“Clearly, I’ve relationship with Aaron Rodgers over there, and he wished me again over there,” Valdes-Scantling stated. “So, it was a toss-up, 50/50. I needed to weigh my choices and see which one I wished to do, which was going to be higher for my profession at this level, and I used to be enthusiastic about it.”
Particularly, the 49ers’ offensive system and present state of affairs at receiver outweighed the chance to reunite with Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
Whereas the Steelers’ receiving corps is at the moment wholesome, the 49ers are going to start out the common season with out prime wideout Brandon Aiyuk, who remains to be working his manner again from final yr’s season-ending knee harm. Moreover, fellow beginning wideout Jauan Jennings can be coping with an harm and has lately requested a commerce. Given these conditions, there is definitely an opportunity that Valdes-Scantling may get elevated to the 49ers’ lively roster sooner somewhat than later.
“Having the ability to get onto the sphere immediately, clearly, that is the objective,” Valdes-Scantling stated. “And so, with the ability to jump-start that technique of studying the system, it betters the possibilities of you being on the sphere.”
Valdes-Scantling additionally stated that not having to study a brand new system was a big purpose why he selected San Francisco over Pittsburgh. The 49ers’ offense, led by offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, is similar to Seattle OC Klint Kubiak’s offense.
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An eight-year veteran, Valdes-Scantling has had a productive NFL profession up thus far. In 2020, he led the NFL in yards per reception whereas serving to Rodgers win his third MVP award. He helped Rodgers win his fourth and most MVP a yr later earlier than profitable back-to-back Tremendous Bowls in Kansas Metropolis whereas catching passes from three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Valdes-Scantling will now look so as to add to his record of accomplishments in San Francisco.
“I do not take something as a right,” Valdes-Scantling stated in a 2023 interview with CBS Sports activities. “With soccer, we have been doing this factor for thus lengthy. I do know I’ve been taking part in since I used to be a bit of child. So it is no completely different it doesn’t matter what the stage is. I do not have a look at it any completely different. … I have a look at all these video games the identical, by no means get too excessive, by no means get too low.
“I believe that is type of been my motto with life, and that is type of how I’ve stayed even keel. … One among my faculty coaches informed me this saying and it is type of caught with me: ‘It is by no means nearly as good as it’s and it is by no means as unhealthy because it appears.’ That is simply how I’ve at all times type of operated my life it is type of helped me out to be the place I am at now.”
