Steelers Free Agent Grades: A bad midseason only got worse

Here are the final grades of the Steelers free-agent class from 2020

The Steelers season ended in bitter disappointment this past Sunday, and before the talk turns to the future, there should be a reflection on the past. While the Steelers had a successful offseason that set them up for a solid season, almost all of that was due to the draft class and not the miserable free agents brought in. Luckily, the Steelers aren’t built by free agents, but the results from this class were certainly disappointing. Here are the grades from the 2020 free agents brought in.

Ray-Ray McCloud

Grade: A+

While I initially didn’t include Ray-Ray McCloud on the midseason list of free-agent grades, I should have. McCloud has easily been the best addition that the Steelers brought in this past year. He played on a contract for next to nothing but became one of the better return men that the team has fielded in nearly 20 years. He worked as both kick and punt returner for the Steelers and provided a level of stability that should continue into next year.

Better yet, McCloud even found some success on offense. While it was in a limited capacity, he ended up serving as the Steelers’ primary slot receiver behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. Considering the chances of him returning to the team are up in the air, McCloud could find himself as the starting slot receiver for the team next year. While the Steelers will likely add to this position via the draft or free agency, McCloud should be a presence on the offense next year. He was brought in for nothing and exceeded all expectations.