What I learned about Tyler Boyd at the NFL Combine and why the Titans should sign him

The Tennessee Titans hosted veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd for a visit in Nashville this week, but Boyd left Music City without a deal in place.

That said, there is still mutual interest between the Titans and Boyd and a deal could very well still get done for the 29-year-old receiver. This is something that has been in the works for a while.

I've heard Boyd's name linked to the Titans as far back as the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. Here's what I learned and why I believe Tennessee should try to get this deal done.

After the Titans hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to be their next head coach, it only made sense for Callahan to reunite with some of the impending free agents from Cincy. 

Tennessee did that by signing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie right after free agency opened. The Titans were also connected to and had interest in Boyd back then.

So naturally, I spoke to multiple coaches and front office members from around the NFL about Boyd while I was in Indianapolis. What would the Titans be getting if they brought him in? Let's start with the bad news.

The Bad News

It was pretty widely believed by the coaches I spoke to that Boyd had lost a step in 2023. Perhaps a sign that he was rapidly declining. The eight-year NFL veteran struggled to get open against man coverage last season. He does not have the same ability to separate that he once did. 

For those reasons, the coaches and executives I spoke to all said they wouldn't be interested in signing Boyd to anything more than a one-year deal. I expect any two-year contract Boyd gets to come without guaranteed money in the second year so that the organization has the opportunity to get a clean break if things go south. He's not a long-term option...But that doesn't mean he's not worth signing.

The Good News

While many doubted Boyd's ability against man coverage, everyone was singing his praises for what he does against zone. Even eight years into an NFL career without the same route-running and burst he once had, Boyd knows how to pick apart a defense and be productive in the slot. He's also a phenomenal leader.

Once upon a time, Boyd was the number one receiver in Cincinnati. He led the team in both yards and targets in 2018 and 2019 with Andy Dalton as his quarterback.

The Bengals then drafted Tee Higgins in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft and used a Top 5 pick on Ja'Marr Chase in 2021. Boyd saw his targets plummet, and he took it in stride. 

As Brian Callahan said during his introductory press conference with the Titans, one thing that propelled the Bengals offense to excellence was an extremely talented receiving corps made up of unselfish individuals. Boyd was at the center of that. He is beloved in Cincinnati by coaches, fans, and teammates alike. He is great for the locker room and organization culture. 

For the Titans, Boyd would be a reliable slot option to compliment Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins. He doesn't need 100 targets over the course of 7 games to be happy and be a good teammate. Younger players would learn from Boyd's leadership, and he fills a hole in the roster. 

That sounds like a player that is definitely worth signing on a short-term contract. I still think Boyd could be good for 500-600 receiving yards as a WR3 in Tennessee's offense this fall. Most importantly, he makes them better both on and off the field. It's hard to take issue with improving the roster, especially since the Titans preserved cap space for this very reason.