Who Should I Start? Ray-Ray McCloud or Hakeem Butler

Thursday, March 14, 6:26 PM

The Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent veteran wide receiver and returner Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year deal worth up to $6 million on Thursday, according to a source. The Falcons have added McCloud and Darnell Mooney through free agency this week and Rondale Moore via trade to give the team much better speed and receiving depth behind No. 1 wideout Drake London. McCloud, 27, is known more for his returning skills on special teams and has just 90 receptions (134 targets) for 767 receiving yards and one touchdown in his six years in the NFL with the Niners, Bills, Panthers and Steelers. Buffalo's former sixth-round pick in 2018 out of Clemson will compete for a depth role at the receiver position in Atlanta this summer while also being a candidate to return kicks. He's off the fantasy radar.

Monday, August 21, 2:31 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released wide receiver Hakeem Butler (undisclosed) with an injury designation. The big-bodied pass-catcher racked up 51 receptions for 599 yards and a league-leading eight touchdown scores in the XFL in 2023 but didn't last very long during his second chance to make it in the NFL. Butler was a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 but did not log a reception for the team, and has zero receptions on one target in two games played with the Philadelphia Eagles in his career. After failing to make the Steelers roster, his NFL career might be over.