ScoutIndex

PIT PIT

Vance McDonald

TE

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 volume, 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

2019 ScoutIndex Rating · TE

Methodology
24.9

2th percentile among TEs

14 games · 55 targets

Role×0.14+0.73
Hands×0.1-2.23
Volume×0.12+0.87
Total EPA×0.22-1.44
EPA/target×0.3-2.42
Yards/target×0.12-2.10

2019 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed52▶

Percentile of 40-yard dash time among TEs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.

Burst54▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.

Agility20▶

Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine TEs (faster = higher).

Size79▶

Height/weight z-score vs. the TE cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).

Receiving

Hands62▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat2▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability40▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share81▶

Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.

Air-Yards Share54▶

Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.

Impact

Efficiency2▶

Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.

Volume82▶

Total targets this season.

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2020PIT32.9101599
2019PIT24.9142382733
2018PIT71.915506104
2017PIT51.210141881
2016SF62.210243914
2015SF44.514303263
2014SF22.34230
2013SF41.2108119

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)

2019 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home6
24
4.0/g
153
26/g
3
Away8
14
1.8/g
120
15/g
0
In division5
12
2.4/g
108
22/g
0
Out of division9
26
2.9/g
165
18/g
3
In wins7
17
2.4/g
90
13/g
1
In losses7
21
3.0/g
183
26/g
2
On grass13
35
2.7/g
264
20/g
3
On turf1
3
3.0/g
9
9/g
0
Indoors1
1
1.0/g
3
3/g
0
Outdoors13
37
2.8/g
270
21/g
3

2019 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1NE2 rec, 40 yds, 0 TD53.3
Week 2SEA7 rec, 38 yds, 2 TD64.8
Week 3SF1 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD45.1
Week 5BAL3 rec, 34 yds, 0 TD59.7
Week 6LAC1 rec, 5 yds, 0 TD40.7
Week 8MIA3 rec, 19 yds, 0 TD37.7
Week 9IND5 rec, 30 yds, 1 TD55.6
Week 10LAR2 rush yds, 0 TD · 3 rec, 11 yds, 0 TD30.3
Week 11CLE3 rec, 33 yds, 0 TD19.7
Week 12CIN1 rec, 1 yds, 0 TD41.6
Week 13CLE3 rec, 21 yds, 0 TD48.8
Week 14ARI1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD37.3
Week 16NYJ3 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD7.3
Week 17BAL2 rec, 19 yds, 0 TD56.6

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

Drafted in round 2, 2013

Also from Rice