_(cropped).jpg) McCloud with theBuffalo Bills in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 88 – New York Giants | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Practice squad | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1996-10-15)October 15, 1996 (age 29) Tampa, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Sickles (Tampa, Florida) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Clemson (2015–2017) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2018: 6th round, 187th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Raymond McCloud III (born October 15, 1996) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver andreturn specialist for theNew York Giants of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theClemson Tigers and was drafted by theBuffalo Bills in the sixth round of the2018 NFL draft. He has also played for theCarolina Panthers,Pittsburgh Steelers,San Francisco 49ers, andAtlanta Falcons.
McCloud attendedSickles High School inTampa, Florida and played on the Gryphonsfootball team as arunning back.[1] As a senior, he rushed for 1,933 yards and 17touchdowns. For his high school career, he had 5,765 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns.[2] He committed to play football for theClemson Tigers in July 2014, choosing them over the likes ofAlabama,Auburn, andFlorida.[3]
As a freshman in 2015, McCloud played in 12 games, catching 29 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown.[4] He missed three games due to a knee injury.[5]
In 2016, as a sophomore, McCloud played in 14 of Clemson's 15 games, missing one due to an ankle injury.[6] In those 14 games, he tallied 49 receptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns, helpingClemson win the National Championship.[7]
As a junior in 2017, McCloud played in all 14 of Clemson's games, tallying 49 receptions for 503 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 25 punts for 303 yards and one touchdown.[8] He was voted Honorable Mention All-ACC at the conclusion of the 2017 season.[9] Following the season, he declared for the2018 NFL draft.[10]
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||||
| 2015 | Clemson | ACC | FR | WR | 12 | 29 | 251 | 8.7 | 1 | 7 | 48 | 6.9 | 0 | 36 | 299 | 8.3 | 1 |
| 2016 | Clemson | ACC | SO | WR | 13 | 49 | 472 | 9.6 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 5.6 | 0 | 54 | 500 | 9.3 | 2 |
| 2017 | Clemson | ACC | JR | WR | 14 | 49 | 503 | 10.3 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 5.0 | 0 | 55 | 533 | 9.7 | 1 |
| Career | 39 | 127 | 1,226 | 9.7 | 4 | 18 | 106 | 5.9 | 0 | 145 | 1,332 | 9.2 | 4 | ||||
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 30+1⁄4 in (0.77 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.49 s | 1.56 s | 2.56 s | 4.32 s | 6.89 s | 34.5 in (0.88 m) | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) | 13 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12] | ||||||||||||
McCloud was drafted by theBuffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 187th overall pick in the2018 NFL draft.[13] In Week 3, in a 27–6 victory over theMinnesota Vikings, he made his first professional reception and had a 13-yard punt return.[14]
On August 31, 2019, McCloud was waived by the Bills.[15]
On September 1, 2019, McCloud was claimed off waivers by theCarolina Panthers.[16] He was waived on October 15, 2019.[17]
On October 17, 2019, McCloud was signed to the Billspractice squad.[18] In addition to serving as a wide receiver, McCloud served as thescout team quarterback, emulating the style ofmobile quarterbacks the Bills face that week.[19] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bills on January 6, 2020.[20] He was waived on July 27, 2020.[21]
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On August 21, 2020, McCloud signed with thePittsburgh Steelers.[22] McCloud signed a one-year contract extension with the Steelers on March 11, 2021.[23] McCloud became the Steelers' primaryreturn specialist, returning 28 kickoffs for 646 yards and 29 punts with an average of 10.7 yards. He was named byPro Football Focus on its All-Pro roster as a second-team return specialist.[24][25]
In 2021, McCloud led the NFL in total punt-return yards gained.[26] He recorded 39 receptions for 277 receiving yards on the season.[27]
On March 22, 2022, McCloud signed a two-year contract with theSan Francisco 49ers.[28] On October 23, in Week 7 against theKansas City Chiefs, McCloud scored his first career touchdown on an 8–yard pass fromJimmy Garoppolo.[29] McCloud finished the 2022 season with 14 receptions for 243 yards and one receiving touchdown to go with a rushing touchdown. He handled some kickoff and punt return duties on special teams.[30]
McCloud was placed oninjured reserve on December 9, 2023.[31] He was activated on January 6, 2024.[32] He finished the 2023 season with 12 receptions for 135 yards while handling some kickoff and punt return duties.[33] The 49ers reachedSuper Bowl LVIII, but lost 25-22 to theKansas City Chiefs. In the Super Bowl, McCloud had 1 catch for 19 yards.
On March 18, 2024, McCloud signed a two-year contract with theAtlanta Falcons.[34] McCloud finished with 62 receptions for 686 yards and one touchdown.[35]
McCloud was released on October 21, 2025 after being a healthy scratch in a Week 6 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, and was sent home for an "excused absence" during the prep week for a week 7 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers and did not travel with the team.[36][37][38]
On October 23, 2025, McCloud signed with theNew York Giants' practice squad.[39]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2018 | BUF | 10 | 1 | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 7.6 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2019 | CAR | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 256 | 14.2 | 39 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | PIT | 16 | 2 | 20 | 77 | 3.8 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 16.3 | 58 | 0 | 57 | 944 | 16.6 | 57 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021 | PIT | 16 | 5 | 39 | 277 | 7.1 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 10 | 0 | 73 | 1,143 | 15.7 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 2022 | SF | 17 | 2 | 14 | 243 | 17.4 | 42 | 1 | 4 | 78 | 19.5 | 71 | 1 | 59 | 955 | 16.2 | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | SF | 12 | 1 | 12 | 135 | 11.3 | 41 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 1.0 | 15 | 0 | 34 | 428 | 12.6 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | ATL | 17 | 13 | 62 | 686 | 11.1 | 60 | 1 | 10 | 79 | 7.9 | 20 | 0 | 14 | 361 | 25.8 | 33 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Career | 94 | 24 | 152 | 1,454 | 9.6 | 60 | 2 | 25 | 271 | 10.8 | 71 | 1 | 260 | 4,125 | 16.2 | 57 | 0 | 18 | 6 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | PIT | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 162 | 20.3 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | PIT | 1 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 79 | 15.8 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | SF | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 145 | 20.7 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | SF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 51 | 17.0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 6 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 11.5 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 437 | 18.4 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
McCloud is the older brother of quarterbackJordan McCloud.[40]
