The Falcons receiving corps suffered a blow when it was announced that Rondale Moore would miss the 2024 NFL season with a knee injury. While not a one-for-one replacement, Atlanta has addressed the position group, signing veteran wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant to a one-year contract, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Coming to the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech, Grant made it immediately clear that his value came on special teams. As a rookie with the Dolphins, Grant only received one target and one carry, finishing with one yard from scrimmage. Instead, his impact came as a returner as he scored his first career touchdown on a 74-yard punt return.
In the following years, Miami noticed the danger his speed presented and attempted to get him more involved on offense. He was able to contribute a bit here and there, but never totaled more than 373 yards or two touchdowns in a season over six years with the Dolphins. In that same time, though, Grant continued to excel on special teams, returning three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Grant’s electricity has been evident throughout his career. He has always been a danger to break off a long return at any moment, twice returning kickoffs longer than 100 yards and returning four punts over 70 yards, including one 97-yarder. He was last in Chicago, where he played 11 games after being traded from Miami. That short sample of time was when Grant delivered his 97-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Following the expiration of his contract with the Bears, Grant signed a three-year deal taking him to Cleveland. Unfortunately, he never got to play for the Browns, suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the 2022 preseason. A year later, finally ready to make his Browns debut, Grant was carted off the field in the team’s final preseason game with a ruptured patellar tendon, once again getting placed on injured reserve before the season began.
Since departing from Cleveland, Grant has shown a continued interest in remaining on the field. In recent months, he has shopped his talents out to the Eagles, Saints, and Jets.
In Atlanta, the return man job won’t be simply handed to Grant. He will have competition for both return spots in Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams. Williams served as the primary kick and punt return since 2021 before missing the 2023 season after undergoing ACL surgery. McCloud has an extensive history as a return man in his history as well.
While both players have the requisite experience, neither player holds quite the same electricity as neither has scored return touchdowns in their NFL career. This sets up an intriguing battle to come. All three players hold plenty of promise as return men with varying levels of value on offense. None of the three are expected to be key contributors for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, but if any prove that they can do more than just return, it could solidify them a roster spot in 2024.