Marquez Valdes-Scantling gets candid on filling Stefon Diggs' shoes with Bills

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a major role to play on his new team, the Buffalo Bills. But just as before, he will not let comparisons define him.

During the offseason, the former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver joined the Bills as an early-release free agent. There, he is expected to be one of the team's top receivers after Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans.

Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Thursday, Valdes-Scantling discussed what his role will be with the Bills (quote begins at 8:48):

"I went through the same thing when I went to Kansas City and Tyreek Hill left. I just come in there and be myself. Whatever that version of myself is that’s needed for the team to help them win, that’s what it is. I’ve never really tried to say, ‘Oh, yeah, I want to come in and replace a guy.'

"It’s never about what anybody else did before me or after me. It’s all about who I am and being the best version of myself," Marquez Valdes-Scantling said.

Valdes-Scantling is coming off a career-worst year with the Chiefs statistically. In 16 games, he had just 21 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown, all the lowest numbers in his NFL career.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling discusses Super Bowl LVIII

It is not unreasonable to say that Marquez Valdes-Scantling was part of the Chiefs' offensive regression during the 2023-24 season. He struggled with drops like his fellow wideouts, which played a factor in his significant dip in production.

But when it mattered the most, he delivered. At Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, he had only three receptions for 20 yards, but one of them was a third-quarter touchdown that gave the defending champions their first lead of the game.

In that same podcast appearance, Marquez Valdez-Scantling looked back at how the Chiefs came back in that game (Start at 4:00):

"You know the great teams that battle adversity all year? It was no flinch out of us. We knew that we deserved to be there; we knew that we just had to settle down and just play our game of football.

"Obviously, we had been through ups and downs all year; and that kind of prepared us for those moments, and to never ever have to flinch," Marquez Valdes-Scantling said.

The 49ers would eventually respond early in the fourth quarter via a Jauan Jennings score from Brock Purdy, but the game remained tied after the extra point attempt was blocked. From there, the two teams exchanged field goals before Mecole Hardman ended it with a touchdown with three seconds left in overtime.