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The San Francisco 49ers continued their free agency work in the shadows, signing return specialist/receiver Ray-Ray McCloud on a two-year deal, prying the five-year veteran away from the Pittsburgh Steelers on a contract worth up to $10.4 million.
McCloud, 25, was one of the most productive returners in the NFL last season, as he returned 38 punts(1st in NFL) for 367 yards(1st in NFL), averaging 9.7 yards per return(3rd in NFL).
Additionally, McCloud was a good kick returner, as he returned 35 kicks(3rd in NFL) for 776 yards(4th in NFL), averaging 22.2 yards per return(15th in NFL).
McCloud fills a must-needed hole as a returner for the 49ers, who lost Trenton Cannon, their primary kick returner last season, in free agency, leaving an even bigger issue in their special teams unit that ranked amongst the bottom eight in the NFL last season.
While the price tag may seem expensive, McCloud's deal is likely fairly incentive-based, and his contract has indicated how the market has gone for special teamers this offseason: expensive.
Fellow return specialist Jakeem Grant signed a three-year deal worth up to $13.3 million with the Cleveland Browns, averaging $4.33 million a year, and he's going into his age-30 season with lesser production.
With the move, the 49ers got the top return specialist available this offseason, showcasing their willingness to spend in order to address their main priorities.
McCloud isn't only a returner; he's displayed some ability as a receiver as well, catching 39 passes for 277 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per reception.
While the production may not seem eye-popping, of those 39 catches, McCloud caught for 18 first downs, despite having a 7.1 yards per reception rate, indicating his reliability in those situations, similar to San Francisco's own receiver Jauan Jennings.
McCloud possesses good top speed and great acceleration, with the ability to work in space, which is why he's such an intriguing receiver for Kyle Shanahan. He's a true "burner", giving the 49ers offense the one archetype of wideout that they've been lacking, but could certainly be used as a gadget weapon in certain scenarios.
Is McCloud going to be a consistent receiver for the 49ers? No. The team has Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings already on the roster. But, McCloud provides the necessary versatility at receiver, giving head coach Kyle Shanahan another way to expand his offensive playbook with yet another young weapon.
McCloud fits the bill of what the 49ers have been targeting this offseason: young, aspiring talent that can contribute on special teams, but with potential on the offensive end, similar to linebacker Oren Burks, whose athletic profile provides intrigue as a backup linebacker.
With the signing of McCloud, Shanahan and Lynch save a roster spot, as they have a multi-dimensional player who slots in as the fourth receiver on the team, but also the top returner on special teams, which has been their persona for the past few years, hence the addition of wideout Travis Benjamin to the 53-man roster last offseason(he played both receiver and returner).
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The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
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The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
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Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
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Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
