WR Boyd Agrees to Contract with Titans

Tyler Boyd’s extended free agency period is over. He is packing his bags for a short trip south to the ‘Music City’.

The former Bengals receiver is inking a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans worth up to $4.5 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

ESPN initially reported the news.

Boyd’s career in Cincinnati ended with no fanfare and was predictable in the aftermath of a difficult final season with the organization that included a handful of critical and uncharacteristic drops in crucial moments. It was a bleak conclusion to an eight-year run (2016-2023) in which the University of Pittsburgh product proved to be a consistent pass catcher (excluding 2023), coming down with 513 catches on 753 targets for 6,000 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.

With big deals looming for Tee Higgins, who was slapped with the franchise tag this year, and Ja’Marr Chase, plus the start of Joe Burrow’s lucrative deal, a five-year, $275 million extension that includes $219.01 million guaranteed, the Bengals were aware they would likely have to sacrifice and say goodbye to Boyd in favor of long-term financial flexibility. Add in the fact he posted his worst season since 2017, and the decision was simple, leaving Boyd to seek a job elsewhere for the first time in his career.

Tennessee has made a few splashy moves in the receiver market this offseason, luring Calvin Ridley away from Jacksonville and drafting Jha’Quan Jackson in an attempt to bolster the depth chart. Now, the Titans are attempting to take advantage of Boyd’s availability by buying low on the 29-year-old receiver.

The coaching staff have already stated that they plan to implement Treylon Burks as a Swiss army knife of sorts, lining up in multiple spots across the formation, just the same as they will likely intend to utilize Boyd and DeAndre Hopkins.

“He’s a first-round pick, obviously you can see all of the talent,” offensive coordinator Nick Holz has said of Burks. “But he’s going to get what he earns.”

Callahan has mentioned the slot position as an area where the Titans were lacking.

“We have to have someone emerge for us at the slot position receiver, when we’re in 11 personnel,” Callahan said prior to the draft. “You need depth at every position. Guys that are fast, explosive and physical, you can’t have enough of them.”

Boyd will join a wide receiver room featuring Hopkins and youngster Burks, as well as Ridley, Jackson, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips. A year after struggling to piece together a competent assortment of pass catchers, the Titans are leaving nothing to chance, entering a new era under coach Brian Callahan.