Flory Branch, Georgia: With the acquisition of Ray-Ray McCloud on Monday, the Atlanta Falcons have added yet another name to their wide receiver group.
McCloud’s two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers expired at the end of the 2023 season, making him a free agent as of the start of the next league year on Wednesday. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network originally broke the story about his relocation to Atlanta on Thursday.
This is McCloud’s seventh team in seven years with the Falcons. His first NFL Draft pick came in the sixth round of 2018 from the Buffalo Bills; however, he only played for them for a single season before moving on to the Carolina Panthers, where he also played for just one season. McCloud was a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020–21. Then he started the 2022 contract that just ended with the 49ers.
McCloud was a starter in one of the 49ers’ twelve games from the previous season. He served on special teams in addition to the offence. He gained 135 yards on 12 receptions. Additionally, he had 10 kick returns for 225 yards and 24 punt returns for 203 yards. In those games, he played in 28% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps and 31% of their special team snaps.
2021 was McCloud’s greatest season to date while playing for the Steelers. With five starts, he has 39 receptions for 277 yards in 16 games. In addition, he led the NFL with 38 punt returns for 367 yards and 35 kick returns for 776 yards.
McCloud’s 49ers teammate, tight end Charlie Woerner, is already a member of the Falcons. Woerner and McCloud spent the last two years together in San Francisco, where they were part of two playoff campaigns and one Super Bowl attempt.
Regarding McCloud’s position group in particular, the Falcons have already signed wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, a well-known player from their 2023 roster. Additionally, they acquired Rondale Moore from the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for quarterback Desmond Ridder, and signed wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who was most recently with the Chicago Bears.
