Falcon Report

OFFICIAL: Falcons Sign WR Ray-Ray McCloud to Two-Year Contract

Former San Francisco 49ers receiver and return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud is officially signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Daniel Flick

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The Atlanta Falcons are making it official with one of their free agent signees.

The Falcons announced on Monday that receiver Ray-Ray McCloud agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth up to $6 million.

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (3) catches a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium / Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The 27-year-old McCloud entered the league as a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft; he spent one year in Buffalo before being after training camp prior to the start of the 2019 season.

He played in six games with the Carolina Panthers but was waived again, returning to Buffalo but failing to play in any games.

McCloud caught on with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2020 season and stayed there for two seasons, serving as the team's primary return specialist. In 2021, he led the NFL 38 punt returns for 367 yards, an average of 9.7 yards per return.

Shortly after the start of free agency in 2022, McCloud signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, where he continued handling return duties.

For his career, the 5-9, 190-pound McCloud has caught 90 passes for 768 yards and one touchdown while taking 15 carries for 192 yards and another score.

As a returner, McCloud's handled 138 punts for 1,326 yards, an average of 9.6 yards per return, and 108 kickoffs for 2,438 yards, averaging 22.6 yards per return. He has no return scores to his name.

The former Clemson standout figures to compete for return duties with running back Avery Williams, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL but led the league in yards per punt return at 16.2 in 2022.

McCloud is the fourth receiver Atlanta's signed since free agency began Wednesday, joining Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore and KhaDarel Hodge.

Atlanta acquired Moore via trade from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for quarterback Desmond Ridder and re-signed Hodge after a two-year stint together.

Falcons Re-Sign WR Hodge, OL Norton in Free Agency

The Falcons now have five wideouts on their roster, as the above four accompany third-year pro Drake London.

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Daniel Flick
DANIEL FLICK

Daniel Flick is an accredited NFL writer for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Daniel has provided boots-on-ground coverage at the NFL Combine and from the Atlanta Falcons' headquarters, among other destinations, and contributed to the annual Lindy's Sports Magazine ahead of the 2023 offseason. Daniel is a co-host on the 404TheFalcon podcast and previously wrote for the Around the Block Network and Georgia Sports Hospitality Media.

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