Tyler Boyd Expected to Make FA Decision Following Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tyler Boyd deal could be reignited now that the NFL Draft is over. That seems certain, but Roman Wilson fills the slot role, which would be redundant with Boyd. However, Boyd is reportedly set to decide on where he wants to go after the NFL Draft. According to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network, Boyd is ready to make a decision and his asking price was up near $9 million per year earlier in the offseason.

“Boyd, who is clearly the top slot receiver available on the open market, was looking for at least $9 million per year at one point earlier this offseason, another source said,” Caplan wrote.

Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan reported early in April that the Steelers offered Boyd a two-year contract in the range of $10 million.

That’s slightly below most estimates of Boyd’s value. Spotrac projects Boyd will sign a three-year contract worth $26.1 million, or an average annual value of $8.7 million.

The Steelers are interested in signing Boyd, but the sides are in a standoff regarding money and/or contract term, and it doesn’t seem that either is willing to blink. The Steelers have signed free agent wide receivers Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins to one-year contracts since they first contacted Boyd.

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reported that the “ship has sailed” between Boyd and the Steelers. And he reiterated that on 93.7 the Fan two weeks ago.

“I don’t think so man. I think they are waiting now; I think sometime after the draft, these free agents don’t count toward the compensatory picks. I can see him going someplace like Kansas City because, obviously, they need a wide receiver right now with [Rashee] Rice up in the air. Unless something crazy happens, which I don’t think will, I don’t think Boyd’s coming here,” Kaboly said.

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. But don’t think that it has completely sailed just yet. There is an obvious scenario where Boyd could sign still for the right price, but with Wilson now in the room, it seems unlikelier than ever.