Drafted 55th overall in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft, Vance McDonald arrived from Rice. He last played in 2020 with PIT, a career spanning 8 NFL seasons. Last season's 24.9 ScoutIndex Rating landed in the 2nd percentile among TEs, below average for the position. Few match his hands, which grades in the 82nd percentile. Across 8 NFL seasons, he has totaled 181 catches for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Size
6'4", 267#
College
Rice
Draft
Rd 2, 55th overall (2013)
Seasons
2013–2020
2020 ScoutIndex Rating · TE
Methodology9th percentile among TEs
10 games · 20 targets
2020 attribute card
click a row to see the formulagroup averages
Athleticism
Speed53▶
Percentile of 40-yard dash time among TEs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.
Burst56▶
Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.
Agility21▶
Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine TEs (faster = higher).
Size81▶
Height/weight z-score vs. the TE cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).
Receiving
Hands82▶
Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.
Deep Threat2▶
Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.
YAC Ability70▶
Yards after catch ÷ reception.
Role
Target Share30▶
Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.
Air-Yards Share4▶
Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.
Impact
Efficiency18▶
Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.
Volume57▶
Total targets this season.
Career (regular season)
Career profile
Across 8 NFL seasons on file, Vance McDonald has played in 87 regular-season games, playing for 2 teams: SF (2013–2016), PIT (2017–2020).
He has rushed for 2 yards and 0 touchdowns. As a receiver he has caught 181 passes for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns. His most productive receiving season was 2018 with PIT: 610 yards and 4 touchdowns in 15 games.
By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2018: a 71.9, in the 93rd percentile among TEs that year.
Career highs (regular season)
- Most rushing yards in a game2 vs LAR, 2019 Week 10
- Most receiving yards in a game112 on 4 catches, 1 TD vs TB, 2018 Week 3
2020 splits
regular season| Split | G | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 4 | 6 1.5/g | 47 12/g | 0 |
| Away | 6 | 9 1.5/g | 52 9/g | 0 |
| In division | 2 | 5 2.5/g | 33 17/g | 0 |
| Out of division | 8 | 10 1.3/g | 66 8/g | 0 |
| In wins | 7 | 10 1.4/g | 66 9/g | 0 |
| In losses | 3 | 5 1.7/g | 33 11/g | 0 |
| On grass | 7 | 13 1.9/g | 94 13/g | 0 |
| On turf | 3 | 2 0.7/g | 5 2/g | 0 |
| Indoors | 1 | 1 1.0/g | 2 2/g | 0 |
| Outdoors | 9 | 14 1.6/g | 97 11/g | 0 |
2020 game log
| Wk | Opp | Line | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postseason | CLE | — | — |
| Week 1 | NYG | 1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD | 35.6 |
| Week 2 | DEN | 1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD | 39.3 |
| Week 3 | HOU | 3 rec, 35 yds, 0 TD | 62.5 |
| Week 5 | PHI | 1 rec, 4 yds, 0 TD | 43 |
| Week 7 | TEN | 2 rec, 14 yds, 0 TD | 45.8 |
| Week 9 | DAL | 1 rec, 2 yds, 0 TD | 40.8 |
| Week 14 | BUF | — | 28.1 |
| Week 15 | CIN | — | 42.4 |
| Week 16 | IND | 1 rec, 5 yds, 0 TD | 41.2 |
| Week 17 | CLE | 5 rec, 33 yds, 0 TD | 47.3 |
Vance McDonald — common questions
- What position does Vance McDonald play?
- Vance McDonald is listed as a TE.
- Which teams has Vance McDonald played for?
- In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Vance McDonald has played for SF (2013–2016), PIT (2017–2020).
- Where did Vance McDonald go to college?
- Vance McDonald played college football at Rice.
- When was Vance McDonald drafted?
- Vance McDonald was selected in round 2, 55th overall, of the 2013 NFL Draft.
- How many touchdowns has Vance McDonald scored?
- Vance McDonald has 15 touchdowns in the regular-season games on file (15 receiving).
- What is Vance McDonald's ScoutIndex Rating?
- Vance McDonald rated 32.9 for 2020, the 9th percentile among TEs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.
Related players
Top teammates, last season on file
- Ben RoethlisbergerQB · 2020
- Diontae JohnsonWR · 2020
- James ConnerRB · 2020
- Chase ClaypoolWR · 2020
- JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · 2020
- Eric EbronTE · 2020
- Benny SnellRB · 2020
- James WashingtonWR · 2020
Drafted in round 2, 2013
- Johnathan CyprienDB · pick 33
- Justin HunterWR · pick 34
- Zach ErtzTE · pick 35
- Darius SlayCB · pick 36
- Giovani BernardRB · pick 37
- Manti Te'oMLB · pick 38
- Geno SmithQB · pick 39
- Tank CarradineDE · pick 40
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