MARCH 18: Providing an update on the situation, Kaboly notes there are some within the Steelers’ organization who are “not 100% on board” with a Boyd agreement. A Pittsburgh agreement could still be in the works, but he adds such a development seems less likely now than it did last week. The Chiefs and Jets could be in on Boyd if he does not join his hometown team.
MARCH 13: The Steelers refuse to shy away from talent in their own division this offseason. A day after signing rival Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh is reportedly sharing mutual interest with long-time Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd, per Mark Kaboly of The Athletic. 
Boyd hasn’t quite been a priority for Cincinnati as they deal with the potential future extensions of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. That tune is sure to change after Higgins requested a trade in response to being franchise-tagged two days ago. Despite falling to third in the pecking order in recent years, Boyd showed that he was more than capable of producing in a WR2 role when Higgins missed five games this season.
Boyd’s best production came at the tail end of his rookie contract, when he caught 166 passes for 2,074 yards and 12 touchdowns over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. That production was enough for the Bengals to sign Boyd to a four-year, $43MM extension, which just expired. While Boyd has failed to reach 1,000 yards receiving or seven touchdowns since, he’s still provided strong contributions despite competing with Chase and Higgins for targets.
Boyd’s 667 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2023 were his lowest season totals since his sophomore season, when he missed six games. Further muddying a potential continued future in his current home is the Bengals’ notorious avoidance of doling out third contracts to veterans.
Pittsburgh makes sense for Boyd, since he played in Acrisure Stadium (Heinz Field at that time) for all of his college years as a Pitt Panther. A Pittsburgh-area-native out of Clairton HS, signing with the division-rival Steelers would be a homecoming for Boyd. Throw in the recent departure of veteran wideout Diontae Johnson via trade last night, and Boyd fits right in. In Pittsburgh, Boyd would immediately become a starting veteran presence in a receiving corps that currently only boasts George Pickens as an experienced starter.
It’s seems to be a move that makes sense for both parties. Cincinnati may decide that Boyd is worth breaking their precious custom, as they did with Trey Hendrickson last year, in order to keep their receiving trio together. Pittsburgh may opt to go a younger route in free agency or even through the draft. The Steelers do often hit on their draft swings at wide receiver, but Boyd’s experience could be just what Russell Wilson needs in 2024.
This would hurt really bad as a bumgles fan
Here’s hoping that Boyd comes home soon.
Which home?
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Perhaps you get a game or two of decent production from Boyd but anything more than that shouldn’t be expected because this guy is running on fumes.
You need to watch film on Denzel Mims who Steelers quietly picked up midseason. He’s gonna be our #2 or 3 this year. He was a victim of the Zack Wilson jets
God no
He could play solid for the Cowboys imo
Jets would work. Lazard is a waste of $$$ and Boyd can actually make separation with DBs
Lazard did have a bad year last year, which wasn’t a shock to me, since his main strength is familiarity with Rodgers. If he had played with Rodgers, chances are he’d be better (most receivers would be, of course, but this is one of those “this quarterback likes this guy” things), but in Lazard’s particular case, I think we all knew why he was there. Lazard on any other team is probably the fourth or on occasion third receiver, but Rodgers has a connection with him that led to that deal.
Of course Rodgers has to be effective for that to work, so obviously the mileage varies. Boyd definitely has more to offer, in my mind, and I agree that he probably gives the Jets (or anyone else) more than Lazard does.
And front office knows this hence the signing of the OL Smith from Dallas.
It’d be interesting to see what the hang-up would be on Pittsburgh’s end. Boyd is a much different receiver than Austin, and it feels as if they could both offer different strengths to play off Pickens on the other side. Is Pittsburgh already committed to taking a WR high, thus not having room for Boyd? Are they wary of his continued effectiveness? Or do they want to save money? Boyd seems like he’d be a relatively inexpensive option to add some reliability and size to a WR room.
I like what Boyd brings to the table athletically. Yet another upgrade to the offense if he were to come home
He’s said some things that I’m sure haven’t gone over well with the Steelers and I get the feeling that while he’s “interested” in coming home, he’s much more interested in a lucrative pay day as he’s apparently a hot commodity. Who can blame him?
Guess what I’m saying is the “ hometown boy coming home” is a nice story but don’t know how much relevance it has in the real world
Still, hope he joins the party
Do not count on Kaboly.
He’s got to be the most inaccurate reporter of information in Pittsburgh.
Multiple times I’ve seen the guy report on something and shortly there after, the opposite is what actually happens.
Kaboly is just another one of pittsburghs sorry journalists. He spends too much time on the radio, 93.7. It shows.
I’ve known Boyd since he played at Clairton. Class example of a young man. Steelers get it done
I don’t get the pessimism, sure the guy isn’t 24 anymore but he still came up with some key catches last season and kept several drives alive on 3rd downs, as he has for the last few years. In ’21 and ’22 I’d say he and Perine were huge safety net options and keys to keeping possession. I’d love to see him play for his hometown but either way I hope he winds up in a situation where he can still make an impact.
I am wondering if they are holding out until they meet with Williams later this week?