The Dallas Cowboys didn’t do much to improve their wide receiver room this offseason because there was no reason to. George Pickens had an All-Pro season, and CeeDee Lamb has been one of the league’s most consistent receivers since he entered the league. And with the rapid improvement from Ryan Flournoy, the Cowboys were set at the position.
They did make a few small moves, bringing in Anthony Smith in Round 7 and signing two undrafted free agents from SMU (Jordan Hudson and Romello Brinson). But all three players are expected to fight for spots on the practice squad rather than on the 53-man roster. But there was one offseason addition that went under the radar and that is quickly proving to be a mistake.
The Cowboys signed two veteran receivers quickly after the NFL Draft, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He has bounced around the league a ton over the last three seasons, as he’s played with the Chiefs, Bills, Saints, 49ers, and Steelers all since 2023. But in his last four stops, “MVS” has caught just 33 passes for 531 yards and five touchdowns.
Despite being a two-time Super Bowl winner, Valdes-Scantling is what you would call a “journeymen” receiver, but he keeps getting opportunities because of his electric speed. He’s averaged nearly 17 yards per reception throughout his eight-year career, and his ability to stretch the field will always give him some value.
But what’s fascinating is how quickly MVS has risen up the depth chart in Dallas.
Despite signing with the team less than two months ago, he is already practicing with the first team. And according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the veteran receiver has made some plays with Dak Prescott, including a heady play where he knocked the ball out of the hands of P.J. Locke on what would have been an interception.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling may have a shot to make the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster
There are a few explanations for why Valdes-Scantling is running with the first team in OTAs.
The obvious is that George Pickens has not shown up for voluntary workouts, and the Cowboys are trying to manage CeeDee Lamb’s snaps. Despite Dallas having one of the best wide receiver rooms in the league, the group behind their top two receivers is very young and inexperienced.
Valdes-Scantling has plenty of NFL experience and has played in just about every type of offense. So it’s not surprising that the coaching staff and Prescott trust him to run the right routes and be where he is supposed to be.
But it’s also very telling that he is working ahead of players like Jonathan Mingo and Treshon Holden, who are competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. The fact that Valdes-Scantling joined the roster only six weeks ago and has already surpassed them on the depth chart doesn’t bode well for their chances.
The Cowboys clearly want to upgrade the No. 4 wide receiver spot, and they are hoping that someone can take that job. Valdes-Scantling is putting his hat into the ring, but you still be dubious about him making the roster and having an impact on gamedays. The fourth WR spot generally goes to a player who can help out on special teams, and that’s not MVS.
Valdes-Scantling has only played 49 career snaps on special teams, with 45 of those coming during his rookie season, according to Pro Football Reference. While it’s not impossible that he could find a role on special teams, most NFL teams aren’t playing soon-to-be 32-year-old receivers on punt coverage.
It’s possible that Valdes-Scantling could take hold of the No. 4 job and give the Cowboys a veteran presence in the locker room. He has the skill set to be an effective receiver and can do a very specific job well. However, he is most likely just a placeholder until Pickens returns to the field or until one of the young receivers steps up and takes his job. That is tough to say, but unfortunately, such is life in the NFL.
As always, don’t overreact too much to offseason and OTA news. Take it with a grain of salt and try to remember the big picture when it comes to team building and roster construction. And unfortunately, for Valdes-Scantling, he’s a practice player helping the team get ready for the 2026 season. Nothing more, nothing less.
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