Departure confirmed today after a two week absence
Oct 21, 2025
Ray-Ray McCloud III has been released by the Atlanta Falcons.
His departure will leave a void in the team’s offensive ranks. McCloud was a wide receiver for the team, joining in 2024 as a free agent.
Between his debut year in 2024 and earlier this year, McCloud played in 21 Falcons games and started 14 of them. He got 68 receptions, 748 receiving yards, one touchdown (this year), and 4 fumbles, according to Spotrac.
McCloud wound up on “healthy inactive” status on Week 6. Then he was missing from practice the following week.
When coach Raheem Morris was asked later that week, before the ill-fated 49ers game, about Ray-Ray’s status, he said the absence was not disciplinary and it was “more a football thing with something we have to get straightened out.”
On Monday, Morris was asked again about the status of McCloud. “None yet,” said Morris. “Obviously, going through that process right now, talking with him. But that’s the distraction that I’m dealing with, no one else.”
24 hours later, McCloud was officially dropped from the roster. The Falcons made no other comment on why he was released.
According to OverTheCap.com, the Falcons will now pocket $3.6 million in cap savings after cutting McCloud. He signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Falcons in 2024.
McCloud also played for the 49ers, Steelers, Panthers, and Bills.
As McCloud exits, Raiqwon O’Neal was added to the practice squad, and Ryan Hayes is now on the practice squad’s injured reserve, according to an announcement by the team.
