It’s the second wave of free agency, and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd remains unsigned.
Two weeks ago, it was reported and confirmed to Steelers Now that the Steelers and Boyd had mutual interest, but nothing has happened just yet. The Steelers agreed to terms with two wide receivers in Quez Watkins and Cordarrelle Patterson this week also. So what’s going on with Boyd?
Gery Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks the Steelers were actually never true players for Boyd. Only if desperation kicked in might they consider the former Clairton and Pitt product.
“I don’t know if they were really alive,” Dulac wrote in online chat Wednesday.
“Only in desperation perhaps,” Dulac added in a separate question when asked if Boyd’s on the Steelers radar.
Mike Tomlin hinted at the NFL owner’s meetings that the Steelers will address the wide receivers position in the draft, and that’s where Dulac envisions. “You will see a receiver drafted high, probably by round 2.”
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said last week that money is the only glaring factor that is keeping the Steelers and Boyd from striking a deal.
“I think the Steelers view any of these current wide receiver free agents as number threes. … I just don’t think they want to pay $8-9 million a year for a guy who’s going to be a number three,” Fittipaldo said on 93.7 The Fan.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic had a similar report to Fittipaldo, as he stated on 93.7 The Fan that the Steelers are in a stalemate with Boyd.
“They’re trying to wait out Tyler Boyd,” Kaboly said on The Fan Morning Show on 93.7 The Fan. “I’m not quite sure how that’s going to end up going down here. I know that he wants to get paid more than they’re offering him.”
Kaboly also had a report that the Steelers are lukewarm on signing Boyd.
“Some people (not all) inside Steelers not 100% on board with signing Tyler Boyd. There is still time to work things and everything is still on the table but it doesn’t appear anywhere close to a sure thing like it appeared to be a week ago at this time,” Kaboly wrote on X.
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.