Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd is one of the best free agent wide receivers on the open market. For the better part of the past few weeks, all signs seemed to point towards the former second-round pick signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This fit made plenty of sense, as the team needs another receiver following the Diontae Johnson trade, and Mike Tomlin is familiar with Boyd’s ability after sharing a division for so long.
However, recent reports indicate that the Steelers are not willing to meet the free agent asking price for Tyler Boyd. With financial hurdles slowing down contract discussions, the eight-year veteran is reportedly drawing interest from other organizations.
According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, multiple teams are interested in signing Tyler Boyd as a free agent. In no particular order, the five most likely candidates appear to be the Chargers, Chiefs, Lions, 49ers, and Dolphins.
5 Teams Emerge In Tyler Boyd Free Agent Sweepstakes
Of these five teams, the Los Angeles Chagers and Kansas City Chiefs make the most sense. The Chargers parted ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, leaving the team without anybody capable of catching the football. Tyler Boyd might have slowed down a bit, but the free agent is considerably better than Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston.
The Kansas City Chiefs, meanwhile, should start preparing for life without Rashee Rice. The former second-round pick is in serious legal trouble following his involvement in a six-car crash and will likely miss a decent chunk of the season. Tyler Boyd has a similar skill set to Rice, and the free agent can be a reliable third option in this passing attack.
While these five teams might be the frontrunners, they shouldn’t be the only teams interested in signing Tyler Boyd as a free agent. Even if the wide receiver isn’t a game-changing talent, he can still provide solid depth for a team looking for another reliable set of hands.
Other Possible Fits
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are not bringing back Michael Thomas, which means they’ll need someone to fill his role in 2024. At his peak, Thomas excelled at quickly getting open near the line of scrimmage, which will be a major need for New Orleans. This team has one of the worst tackle situations in football, and quarterback Derek Carr is terrible against pressure. Tyler Boyd can still get open quickly, so the free agent could play a large role in minimizing the effect of the Saints subpar offensive line.
New England Patriots
The Patriots will select a quarterback with their first-round pick, and that player will have a tough time succeeding with New England’s current offensive arsenal. While the team will probably draft a wideout in the 2024 NFL Draft, they could add Tyler Boyd as a free agent to be a short-term answer at the position. Boyd, Kendrick Bourne, and Demario Douglas aren’t exactly the 2007 Patriots, but they’re all solid enough players who can produce in the right situation.
Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb is one of the best wide receivers in football, but the rest of the Cowboys depth chart leaves something to be desired. Brandin Cooks is a shell of his former self, and the team already parted ways with Michael Gallup. Seeing as this team is seemingly uninterested in spending money, they might not sign Tyler Boyd as a free agent. However, if Jerry Jones truly wants this team to go on a deep playoff run, Boyd could be a wise addition.
Main photo: Kareem Elgazzar – USA Today Sports
