Fowler: Titans Signing Steelers WR Target Tyler Boyd

Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan reported early in April that the Steelers offered Boyd a two-year contract in the range of $10 million.

That was slightly below most estimates of Boyd’s value. Spotrac projected Boyd will sign a three-year contract worth $26.1 million, or an average annual value of $8.7 million. Instead, he got just about half of that value for being a slot receiver who is about to turn 30 years old.

Mark Kaboly reported last month that the “ship has sailed” between Boyd and the Steelers. And he reiterated that on 93.7 the Fan two weeks ago.

“I don’t think so man. I think they are waiting now; I think sometime after the draft, these free agents don’t count toward the compensatory picks. I can see him going someplace like Kansas City because, obviously, they need a wide receiver right now with [Rashee] Rice up in the air. Unless something crazy happens, which I don’t think will, I don’t think Boyd’s coming here,” Kaboly said.

A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Boyd was Cincinnati’s primary slot receiver for six years, working inside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the team’s usual starting. The 29-year-old has been one of the most consistent slot receivers in the NFL. He has recorded at least 50 catches and 600 receiving yards in seven of his eight seasons. His best years came in 2018-19, when he exceeded 1,000 yards for the only two times in his career lineup. The ship has now indeed sailed, as Boyd is off the market to another AFC team.