The Pittsburgh Steelers' perpetual hunt for wide receiver help continues, albeit to no avail -- yet. However, they may have been given a lifeline courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta has released veteran receiver Ray-Ray McCloud, per an official team announcement. He was a surprise healthy inactive in the Falcons' Week 6 win over the Buffalo Bills, and had his "excused absence" against the San Francisco 49ers. It's unclear exactly what happened, though there was ostensibly tension brewing between him and the coaching staff.
Nevertheless, context aside, McCloud is suddenly available on the open market. He profiles as an all-too-obvious target for the Steelers amid their well-chronicled search for wideout help.
Pittsburgh Steelers-Ray-Ray McCloud reunion makes too much sense after Falcons release
A career journeyman prior, McCloud emerged as the Falcons' primary slot man last season before his falling out with the club. In turn, he posted career-highs across the board, recording 82 fewer years in 2024 (686) than from 2018 to 2023 combined (768). Seeing him thrive as a near-every-down player should motivate Pittsburgh to take a flier, given their unproven pass-catching corps behind two-time Pro Bowler D.K. Metcalf.
Pittsburgh's tight end tandem of Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth has handled most of the reps inside. That alone tells you there's room for McCloud on the bottom of the roster or practice squad, at the very least. The eighth-year pro could instantly assume a meaningful role in the Steelers' offense.
Moreover, as Steeler Nation presumably knows, McCloud spent the 2020 and 2021 campaigns with Pittsburgh. He was primarily a special teamer, and a damn good one. His 367 punt return yards in the second season donning the black and gold led the NFL.
McCloud's pre-existing connection to head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers organization certainly works in all parties' favor. The familiarity makes the idea of an ideal partnership feel like an easy, worthwhile reunion.
It seems that Atlanta's choice to part ways with McCloud is almost exclusively because of what their sideline general, Raheem Morris, called a "private matter." In other words, this wasn't a football-related decision.
Tomlin and the Steelers can handle whatever led to the Falcons moving on from McCloud; just get him in the building. If the guy can run routes and make receptions, that's enough for a Pittsburgh group lacking proven options outside of Metcalf.