The Atlanta Falcons have made many moves to improve from their disappointing 2023 outing that ended with a third-straight 7-10 record and the dismissal of now-Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. So, when ESPN’s Marc Raimondi picked one of the new acquisitions as the surprise standout from OTAs and minicamps, it didn’t surprise me. Atlanta splurged on rebuilding this offense that was, at best, inconsistent and, at worst, consistently disjointed. The Falcons brought in wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore to add a speed component to the offense that was missing with Smith’s more physical approach. However, the least-talked-about receiver acquisition, from the San Francisco 49ers, Ray-Ray McCloud, stood out the most before the summer break.
When the Falcons signed McCloud in March, it didn't make a big splash, especially compared to more high-profile acquisitions such as quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Most figured McCloud, a veteran going into his seventh year, would make his mark primarily as a return man. But he also got reps with Atlanta's first team this spring and performed well, catching passes from Cousins for big plays. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson figures to use many wide receivers. McCloud will be in that mix behind Drake London and Mooney, along with players such as Rondale Moore and sixth-round draft pick Casey Washington.
For San Francisco, McCloud was more of a return specialist, returning 57 punts for 559 yards and 36 kickoffs for 824 yards in his two years as a 49er, making him a prime special teams candidate with the new kickoff rules. So, anything he added to the offensive side of the ball was a plus. With him cementing a spot in the receiver rotation, McCloud becomes a four-down player and yet another weapon for this offense to grow around in 2024.
