The Pittsburgh Steelers have formally misplaced their first exterior free agent. Huge receiver Ray-Ray McCloud is signing a two-year cope with the San Francisco 49ers, in line with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
WR/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud is signing with the #49ers on a two-year deal, per supply.
McCloud led NFL in punt return yards (367) and in addition caught 39 passes for the Steelers final yr.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 18, 2022
McCloud advised reporters earlier within the offseason he needed to stay in Pittsburgh. However he reportedly was going to have a market with the 49ers rumored to be a kind of groups. Now, he heads to the West Coast on a two-year deal. it’s unknown precisely how large the contract is.
In line with Fowler, the Steelers tried to re-sign him however the 49ers supplied extra money.
Steelers tried to maintain McCloud however S.F. made stronger dedication
RT @JFowlerESPN: WR/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud is signing with the #49ers on a two-year deal, per supply.
McCloud led NFL in punt return yards (367) and in addition caught 39 passes for the Steelers final yr
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 18, 2022
Tom Pelissero confirms that notion. The 49ers’ deal is value “as much as” $10.4 million.
The #49ers are signing former #Steelers WR/RS Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal value as much as $10.4 million, per supply.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 18, 2022
McCloud noticed his function increase in 2021, filling in for JuJu Smith-Schuster because the workforce’s main slot receiver. He caught 39 passes however for simply 277 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per catch. He did most of his harm within the return recreation, serving because the Steelers’ kick and punt returner the final two years. In 2021, he led the league in punt returns (38) and punt return yardage (367), whereas averaging 9.7 per strive. He additionally averaged 22.2 yards per kick return and helped convey the Steelers out of the basement they lived in previous to McCloud’s arrival in the summertime of 2020.
Pittsburgh will now seek for backup slot depth and somebody who can put on each return hats. JuJu Smith-Schuster stays a free agent and may the workforce lose him too, they’ll have a giant void at slot receiver on their roster.
