Are Tyler Boyd's days with the Bengals over?

[Arkansas Bengal]

Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 9, 2024, 06:00 AM ET

 

 

CINCINNATI -- Tyler Boyd has caught 513 passes with the Cincinnati Bengals. And one of his most memorable moments involved none of them.

 

In 2019, Boyd started cramping in the final seconds of a Week 16 game against the Miami Dolphins. Had Boyd stayed down and been unable to make it to the line of scrimmage, a mandatory 10-second run-off would have ended the game and Cincinnati's chances of a dramatic comeback.

 

So Boyd crawled along the turf, staggered to his feet and lined up in time for the Bengals to stop the clock and set up a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion at the end of regulation.

 

The Bengals eventually lost in overtime, sealing their status as the NFL's worst team in 2019. But that play showed how valuable Boyd could be even without catching a touchdown pass. It's one of the ways he has displayed leadership during his Bengals tenure, which started when he was a second-round pick in 2016.

 

But that tenure could be ending soon. Boyd, 29, is set to enter free agency, leaving his future as a Bengal uncertain. But his impact on the franchise's turnaround is undisputed. Boyd had a major role in setting the foundation that transformed Cincinnati from the NFL's worst team to a championship contender.

 

It's one of the reasons why Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, whose locker is next to Boyd's, interrupted Boyd's final media scrum of the season.

 

"In the receiver room, obviously we've got a ton of talent there," said Browning, who started the final seven games of the season after Joe Burrow suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist. "But a big, unsung hero of the locker room. I hope he's back. But wherever he goes, someone's going to be lucky to have him."

 

Boyd entered the season as the longest-tenured player on the roster. His breakout moment came in the season finale in 2017, when he caught a game-winning touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens.

 

The former Pitt standout is one of four players -- along with running back Joe Mixon, defensive tackle Josh Tupou, defensive end Sam Hubbard -- who predated coach Zac Taylor's arrival in 2019.

 

As Taylor worked on changing the franchise and establishing a winning culture, Boyd played an integral role, from helping the coaching staff's message filter through the locker room to establishing an example for others, including young receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.

 

Two of Boyd's key traits, a great attitude and daily consistency, were important for building the culture that Taylor wanted to create.

 

"He's one of those guys, that through thick and thin, is always, 'Whatever you need from me coach,'" Taylor said in May 2023. "He's always been a great leader in the locker room. He's always been someone I've been able to go to and know that I'm going to get a truthful response back on how things are going."

 

When Boyd arrived, A.J. Green was still in the midst of his run as the team's No. 1 receiver. Boyd led the team in receiving in 2018 and 2019 as Green battled injuries. Once Cincinnati drafted Higgins in 2020 and Chase a year later, Boyd's role in the offense diminished significantly.

 

However, Boyd never expressed any frustration over a lack of targets. Instead, he showed the way forward for the two blossoming stars.

 

"With each one of those guys joining the team, his touches went down, and he kind of set the tone that it was not a 'I gotta get mine' type of receiver room," Browning said. "And I think that's an underrated part of the room in general."

 

In eight seasons, Boyd had 513 receptions, 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. At the peak of his career, he was known as one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league. Between 2020 and 2022, he had four total drops in the regular season, matching the same number he had in 2023.

 

With Burrow signed to a big extension and Chase and Higgins also eligible for new contracts, Boyd is among those who could be too pricey for a Bengals team trying to manage the salary cap.

 

In that case, Cincinnati will not only need to replace their starting slot receiver but also try to fill a massive leadership void.

 

The type of leadership that was on display against Miami in 2019.

 

"I was just willing to do anything I could to help the team win," Boyd said. "That's what showed on that tape."

 

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39478089/are-tyler-boyd-days-bengals-over

[Le Tigre]

All of the accolades…but no interest in keeping his talents around? 
 

A valuable piece will be jettisoned…and all for the innocuous reasons of “not enough money”. Bullshit. 
 

When they try and jam Chuck Fizzle or some 98th round kinda receiver out of Somewhere State…and roll craps…they may understand the value of present pieces. 

[Griever]

Yeah...the focus has primarily  been on Tee's possible departure (rightfully so, he's a 1B kind of receiver). The thought of not having him OR Boyd is definitely scary though. I think we may actually have something in Iosivas, but can he replace that sort of production? I want to have faith in Charlie but he really needs to get stronger or else durability will continue to be a concern. We need a move the chains dude.

[spicoli]

22 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

All of the accolades…but no interest in keeping his talents around? 
 

A valuable piece will be jettisoned…and all for the innocuous reasons of “not enough money”. Bullshit. 
 

When they try and jam Chuck Fizzle or some 98th round kinda receiver out of Somewhere State…and roll craps…they may understand the value of present pieces. 

[sparky151]

If the team tags (or extends) Tee, it's likely Boyd will be paid more elsewhere. Chase expects an extension this offseason too. Maybe they sign someone young and inexpensive in free agency as Tyler's replacement. Or maybe it's just Iosivas, Jones, and a re-signed Irwin. 

 

But Boyd will probably get 8 mil per year and that's a lot for a WR3. 

[Dautcom08]

This team / front office has never had a problem identifying and acquiring talented WRs.  Not worried about the prospects of having to backfill.

 

And keep in mind, Boyd only had over 50 yards receiving in only 5 games this year (59, 53, 117, 56 and 52) with an 39 YPG average and that was even with Tee missing significant time this year.  That's no knock on Boyd because he's been fantastic here but that production isn't exactly lighting the world on fire.

[|BlackJesus|]

I would be fine with bringing him back, but only on a 2 year 10 mill deal (5 per) and he likely believes he's worth more than that.

[Le Tigre]

1 hour ago, spicoli said:

[MichaelWeston]

He's just not nearly as good as he was in the past and heading toward a cliff. The kind of player you definitely let walk. 

[|BlackJesus|]

The problem is whenever I think of Boyd my mind sees his drop in the Super Bowl and in the end zone last season vs the Texans. 

[|BlackJesus|]

Only drop that entire year 

 

[|BlackJesus|]

If Boyd catches this the Bengals go 6-3, Burrow is probably not injured against Baltimore the following week, and Bengals likely playing on Sunday in the SB ... (only half kidding)  

 

[spicoli]

 

[Jamie_B]

49 minutes ago, MichaelWeston said:

He's just not nearly as good as he was in the past and heading toward a cliff. The kind of player you definitely let walk. 

 

I agree with this. I had hoped we would draft him that year and was stoked when we did. The guy beat Fitzgeralds numbers at Pitt. And during his time here has been a solid WR, but he does look like he's losing a step. I'm ok moving on.

[Le Tigre]

Dropped ball. Yeah…just no good anymore. 
 

Seem to recall Chuck Fizzle dropped more than a few this season also…when he wasn’t on IR. 
 

Oh…but Hez a draf pik..an cheep!!!

 

The Bengals do this shit every year. Zillions in cap space…but always “need to save for….”

[spicoli]

I love Tyler Boyd. I have his jersey actually.

That said, I’m not big on paying a guy a bunch of money to be the third or fourth option in the passing game just because he’s a fan favorite. He’s had a great career here and will always be a fan fave. Time to move on though. 

[Le Tigre]

1 minute ago, spicoli said:

I love Tyler Boyd. I have his jersey actually.

That said, I’m not big on paying a guy a bunch of money to be the third or fourth option in the passing game just because he’s a fan favorite. He’s had a great career here and will always be a fan fave. Time to move on though. 

Get that. Then again, who would be that “third or fourth option” who will actually produce? If they had a bonafide NFL tight end, that would answer the question. But they don’t. 

[spicoli]

We have no idea what FA and the draft will bring us. Just too early to say who that 3rd-4th option is going to be at this point. 

[IKOTA]

Very nice and fitting that Tyler had 513 catches in Cincinnati.
 

Appreciate him and loved him as a Bengal but definitely time to move on and get some quickness and speed in the slot. 

[claptonrocks]

22 hours ago, sparky151 said:

If the team tags (or extends) Tee, it's likely Boyd will be paid more elsewhere. Chase expects an extension this offseason too. Maybe they sign someone young and inexpensive in free agency as Tyler's replacement. Or maybe it's just Iosivas, Jones, and a re-signed Irwin. 

 

But Boyd will probably get 8 mil per year and that's a lot for a WR3. 

I don't see any team going 8mil 

for Boyd at this point in his career.

 

So some team will likely pay it to him...😎

Bears are looking for receivers unless they draft Harrison.

[sparky151]

For what it's worth, Spotrac forecasts Boyd getting 8.7 mil per year on a 3 year deal. PFF predicts 8.75 APY on a 2 year deal.

 

The Bears or Chiefs or Patriots would all make sense for Boyd and he'll have multiple offers. 

[claptonrocks]

On 2/9/2024 at 4:21 PM, MichaelWeston said:

He's just not nearly as good as he was in the past and heading toward a cliff. The kind of player you definitely let walk. 

Could be true.

I see him slowing .

Still good but time to inject a new slot.

 

I'm sure Chuckie Shalizzle knows he's got to get bigger and stronger.

The kid has talent.

 

Iso knows his snaps will depend on contested and dropped passes especially in crucial moments.

 

They'll learn and produce sans injuries.

[Jamie_B]

10 hours ago, sparky151 said:

For what it's worth, Spotrac forecasts Boyd getting 8.7 mil per year on a 3 year deal. PFF predicts 8.75 APY on a 2 year deal.

 

The Bears or Chiefs or Patriots would all make sense for Boyd and he'll have multiple offers. 

 

I think the Chiefs are going to try to keep Sneed and Jones, I'm not sure they will have the money for Boyd.

[sparky151]

My guess is the Chiefs let Jones go. They'll try to keep Sneed but also need to upgrade their offensive tackles. Then they'll just hope some of their younger WRs turn out to be good. 

[Jamie_B]

1 hour ago, sparky151 said:

My guess is the Chiefs let Jones go. They'll try to keep Sneed but also need to upgrade their offensive tackles. Then they'll just hope some of their younger WRs turn out to be good. 

 

I think Jones is gonna get paid so I tend to agree on that point.