After years of lacking clarity with their returners, the 49ers have finally made a sizable investment. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, San Francisco signed former Steelers receiver and return ace Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal worth up to $10.4 million.
While that’s a substantial figure that would come out to a $5.2 million per year average, it is almost certainly incentive-laden. These national reports tend to include the largest possible figure as a courtesy to agents, hence the “up to” portion. It’s still a nice investment, but it will likely come in as less than advertised.
The 49ers finished last season with the veteran Travis Benjamin returning punts and mostly Deebo Samuel taking kickoffs. Putting Samuel in that situation again, even if only for the playoffs, would be a risky move especially if he’s extended this offseason.
In McCloud, the 49ers get a returner who led the league with 367 punt return yards and 1,143 combined return yards on punts and kicks. He averaged 9.7 yards per punt return on 38 returns and 22.2 yards per return on kicks.
The main concern with McCloud are his fumbles. He has 11 in his four-year career and four with the Steelers last season.
But there’s also the receiving upside to McCloud, who had 39 receptions for 277 yards last season, almost exclusively out of the slot. That reception figure would have ranked fourth on the 49ers roster last season.