Tyler Boyd‘s free agency is set to come to an end. The veteran wideout has agreed to a one-year deal with the Titans, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
This agreement has a maximum value of $4.5MM, Fowler adds. Boyd is the latest receiver to find a new home in the post-draft wave of free agency, after the likes of Michael Gallup, DJ Chark and Odell Beckham Jr. signed deals of their own last week. This agreement will allow Boyd to continue working with Brian Callahan.
The latter worked alongside Boyd during his time as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator before taking on Tennessee’s head coaching gig this offseason. His debut season at the helm of the Titans will include a familiar face operating in the slot. Boyd – who included the Titans on his list of free agent visits – had spent his entire eight-year career in Cincinnati prior to today’s news.
With Tee Higgins in need of the franchise tag (and/or a long-term extension) and Ja’Marr Chase set to receive one of the league’s most lucrative receiver deals in the near future, though, signs have long pointed to Boyd heading elsewhere this offseason. The 29-year-old was reported to have a mutual interest in a deal sending him to his hometown Steelers, but the sides could not find common ground on contract terms. That left him free to pursue deals with other teams, and a number of potential suitors emerged.
Tennessee already made a massive investment at the receiver position this offseason, prying Calvin Ridley away from the Jaguars and Patriots. The former first-rounder landed a four-year, $92MM featuring almost $47MM guaranteed at signing. The Ridley addition, in turn, came just one year after the Titans added DeAndre Hopkins; the latter is under contract for one more season. The team also has 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks in the fold, but Boyd will look to compete for a starting role.
The former second-rounder topped 800 yards each season between 2018-21, twice eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark during that span. With Chase and Higgins taking on a major share in the Bengals’ passing game, though, Boyd has seen his usage and production decline in recent years. In 2023, he posted 667 yards, the second-lowest total of his career in a full season. The low cost of this Titans deal illustrates how his market was viewed around the league.
A strong season from Boyd will help his chances of landing a more lucrative accord next offseason, but for now he will turn his attention to serving as a dependable complementary option for quarterback Will Levis. Tennessee also hosted wideout Zay Jones yesterday, but this Boyd deal will likely take them out of the running for further free agent additions.
One year not bad…………..bye berks
Good spot for him. Would have been a nice story to have a Pittsburgh homecoming but it wasn’t the right fit for player or club.
Hope he fades into obscurity there, Monkey’sUncle. Pretty apparent this guy didn’t want to be here given the reports he was offered $10M for 2 years. Huge ego and sense of self importance. Talks a lot of smack for a number 3 receiver
Turning down an offer from a team you don’t want to play for doesn’t make you a bad guy. Maybe he cares more about winning than money? Tho if that’s the case, I’m not sure why he chose TEN. Maybe he just didn’t want to be in Ohio. I can’t blame him.
Point was, they apparently got rid of a couple guys that didn’t want to be here. Why would you sign a guy who’s not all-in?
Wait, so why do you hope he fades into obscurity in a place he apparently wants to be?
He sure talked a lot of smack when he was in Cincy, Oooof. Questioning whether the Steelers quit, etc
Hopefully being in Tennessee with a young QB, the chatter will be lessened.
Different division. Different type of team and QB.
Yes, obscurity from a Steelers fan’s perspective. Hope I’ve explained that well enough for you
Got it. I’ve always liked the player, but I don’t have a horse in the AFC north race. Seems like the Steelers agreed with him about one or two players quitting.
I should have been more thorough with the original thought. I don’t hate the guy—he’s a local kid.
And I agree. I hope they jettisoned their problem children. And that Pickens has grown up
And hey, Pickens has the advantage of at least actually being good and only having just turned 23.
A team in need of WR depth should offer a 5th or 6th for Burks. See if they can get him on a buy low offer.
Vikings could use a 3rd option behind Jefferson and Addison at WR
Could easily take Burks spot who’s been a bust since titans traded away AJ to get him. Titans roster looking tight on offense. Levis Pollard Spears Chig Ridley Boyd.
Good value.
He’s in a steady decline now and had a career low yds per reception last season. I’d be surprised if he can continue to keep his snap count above 800 the rest of his career.
For the money and term I don’t think it hurts. He is fairly sure-handed. His catch rate stays at about 70%. He isn’t explosive, but you aren’t bringing him in to be explosive either.
Getting Levis a pair of hands that can reliably catch intermediate passes to build confidence I think is worth the price paid. He is definitely in decline and isn’t a game changer, but he is a small part of a system that will help Levis succeed this year. The room is better with him in it than it was without him.
I’ll miss him here as a Bengal but it’ll easy to root for him in Tennessee with Callahan. One of my favorite all time Bengals, good luck my man!!
I wish we kept him at that price. He’s worth every cent and always played hard .
Still not sure how a guy with #2 receiver stats and consistency is getting paid like a #4 after years of steady production.
Titans gone from a run heavy team with King Henry to what looks more like a pass heavy team with Ridley getting paid, DHop, Burks and now Boyd aswell but Will Levis is far from a dependable QB.
RB being a far cheaper position relying on one guys production seemed like a much better route to success for Tennessee, I think this team will be underwhelming
I’m surprised Baltimore didn’t go after him
If they gave Boyd that contract they wouldn’t even have enough cap space to sign their draft picks as it currently stands
Tennessee has improved A LOT! With times like Chicago and Baltimore catching so many offseason headlines, the Titans have had a sneaky good offseason.
Especially if Callahan can kick that line into decent shape. And if Levis is a real answer, of course. I think he’ll be fun to watch if he’s any good.
Why? Little money to go to a bad team? You think he would have signed with a contender.
Enough to win this division? Probably not, Texas has improved way more and stole 2 of the Titans better defenders
This a QB league. I really don’t care what receivers they sign until the verdict is in on Levis. As of right now , not impressed. At best , 3rd in division. Every year there is a team with a new coach and splashy free agents that is hyped all off season. Most of the time those teams fizzle out quickly. This sure feels like that this year but time will tell.
Doesn’t make sense to go from the number three receiver on the Bengals to the number 4 receiver on the Titans. He’s a damn good player, but has a problem with playing his role and doing his job. Good luck Tyler, but me thinks you have made a mistake.
That was my first thought when his possible landing spots were listed. Then he chose Tennessee. Here in Pittsburgh, reports say he was offered $10M over 2 years. Close to home. Would be greeted as a hero and very much a main cog here
Has to be something more to the story or perhaps local reporting is wrong
Sometimes it’s the way the team structures the deal. They might say $10 million over two years so we assume it’s $5 million per year, and then later we find out they offered $2 million in year one, and $8 million in year two. Plenty of agents will advise against that deal because the team always ends up asking them to take a pay cut in year two.
Thanks and that makes a lot of sense. Never thought about that.