The Falcons receiving corps suffered a blow when it was introduced that Rondale Moore would miss the 2024 NFL season with a knee damage. Whereas not a one-for-one substitute, Atlanta has addressed the place group, signing veteran huge receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant to a one-year contract, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Community.
Coming to the NFL as a sixth-round pick of Texas Tech, Grant made it instantly clear that his worth got here on particular groups. As a rookie with the Dolphins, Grant solely acquired one goal and one carry, ending with one yard from scrimmage. As an alternative, his affect got here as a returner as he scored his first profession landing on a 74-yard punt return.
Within the following years, Miami observed the hazard his pace offered and tried to get him extra concerned on offense. He was in a position to contribute a bit right here and there, however by no means totaled greater than 373 yards or two touchdowns in a season over six years with the Dolphins. In that very same time, although, Grant continued to excel on particular groups, returning three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Grant’s electrical energy has been evident all through his profession. He has at all times been a hazard to interrupt off a protracted return at any second, twice returning kickoffs longer than 100 yards and returning 4 punts over 70 yards, together with one 97-yarder. He was final in Chicago, the place he performed 11 video games after being traded from Miami. That quick pattern of time was when Grant delivered his 97-yard punt return for a landing.
Following the expiration of his contract with the Bears, Grant signed a three-year deal taking him to Cleveland. Sadly, he by no means bought to play for the Browns, struggling a torn Achilles tendon within the 2022 preseason. A 12 months later, lastly able to make his Browns debut, Grant was carted off the sector within the staff’s last preseason sport with a ruptured patellar tendon, as soon as once more getting positioned on injured reserve earlier than the season started.
Since departing from Cleveland, Grant has proven a continued curiosity in remaining on the sector. In current months, he has shopped his skills out to the Eagles, Saints, and Jets.
In Atlanta, the return man job gained’t be merely handed to Grant. He could have competitors for each return spots in Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams. Williams served as the first kick and punt return since 2021 earlier than lacking the 2023 season after present process ACL surgical procedure. McCloud has an intensive historical past as a return man in his historical past as nicely.
Whereas each gamers have the requisite expertise, neither participant holds fairly the identical electrical energy as neither has scored return touchdowns of their NFL profession. This units up an intriguing battle to return. All three gamers maintain loads of promise as return males with various ranges of worth on offense. Not one of the three are anticipated to be key contributors for brand new quarterback Kirk Cousins, but when any show that they’ll do extra than simply return, it might solidify them a roster spot in 2024.
