The Cowboys signed veteran receiver Marques Valdez-Scantling to a one-year deal, but how does he fit into the receiver room?
The Dallas Cowboys created a media storm on Monday as the franchise announced it had signed veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal.
Given that George Pickens has reportedly not signed his franchise tag yet, the MVS news sent social media into meltdown.
Some thought it was a surefire sign that Pickens is out in Dallas, but most of us knew logically that this move for a veteran receiver was nothing more than a depth addition and a potential training-camp body for Brian Schottenheimer.
Indeed, one source tells our Mike Fisher that the ESPN Adam Schefter report (now suspiciously deleted from X) insisting that Pickens "wants a long-term contract or he would like a trade'' is bogus.
"That's news to us,'' a source told Fish on Monday evening. "There's not going to be any trade.''
And another team source has now come forward to confirm to CowboysRoundtable.com that the MVS talks started before the draft and that he is viewed as a "depth piece.''
An eight-year veteran with two Super Bowl rings, Valdes-Scantling, 31, comes to The Star looking to keep his career going after several stops over the years.
In the last two seasons, Valdes-Scantling has played for four different teams, which suggests he's bounced around, and when a player does that, it often means they are struggling to find their role.
We know that Valdes-Scantling is a pure "depth piece,'' as opposed to one who could be viewed as a big-bodied (6-4) home-run threat or go-to guy for Dak Prescott.
With CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy as the top three receivers, Valdes-Scantling will find himself down the depth chart, not as a replacement for George.
Just 120 yards and a touchdown last season with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, and only 411 yards and 4 TDs in 2024, Valdes-Scantling isn't exactly setting the world on fire.
But he is a veteran receiver who has seen it all in the NFL and can still produce a downfield play to shift field position.
However, let's not get this twisted. He won't be getting six or seven targets a game or be a key cog in Schottenheimer's offense. He's a pure depth piece who will provide veteran leadership to the younger receivers on the roster.
It's a cheap deal for a veteran who once could come in, make a couple of plays for the offense, and be there in case injury strikes.
Nothing more, nothing less.
And that's assuming he even makes the team.
Does he still have value? Yes, otherwise Dallas wouldn't have signed him, but let's not go overboard here.
Remember, there's a reason why he has been on four different teams in the last two seasons, so don't expect too much from the veteran in 2026 - let alone expect him to be a Pickens replacement.