Veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd said over the weekend that he would “absolutely” like to sign with the Steelers, and apparently, the interest is mutual.
The Steelers have been in touch with Boyd this offseason, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show, but the veteran receiver has been unsatisfied with the financial offers from Pittsburgh or any other team.
“The word on the street is that all the offers [Boyd is] getting, they’re not very good offers, as in money-wise, so he’s going to play it out,” said Kaboly during a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast. Kaboly suggested the same was true regarding whatever discussions the Steelers have had with Boyd, whether they have included a formal offer or just more general conversations about potential compensation.
There are other available receivers like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen with better recent track records than Boyd, so he may have to wait for them to find a landing spot before another team meets his demands. He earned just under $2.4MM in Tennessee last year, per OverTheCap, for the worst full-season performance of his career with just 39 receptions for 390 yards. He also went the entire season – 16 games, eight starts, and 635 snaps – without finding the end zone, an unfortunate career-first, causing him to miss out on $2.1MM of available incentives.
Now, Boyd may have to consider a veteran minimum salary of $1.255MM with additional money available via incentives, and unlike his deal with the Titans, his next contract may not include any guaranteed money.
He was in town here over the weekend to run a youth camp. I salute that. But it’s funny that he played hardball last year with the Steelers but now “would absolutely love to sign” here
There are better options
Not many.
Reportedly multiple Steeler players went to management last season and asked them to avoid Boyd.
Why?
A few years back he accused the Steelers of giving up towards the end of a Bengals win over the Steelers, which I remember. Per Steelers Depot, he also had taken shots in the media at the Steelers locker room culture at various times. SD has passed on more than once that “well-respected” players in the Steeler locker room do not like Boyd because he keeps talking about the Steelers negatively in the media, which is generally some thing that established vets don’t do in the NFL, especially when he hasn’t played for them.
Let’s pretend these “well respected” Steelers never talk trash or say anything negative about division rivals. When you think of the best rivalries from the past: Chiefs/Raiders/ Cowboys/Redskins/ etc. there was always plenty of animosity to fuel the matchups (which is how it should be).
Sounds like these Steelers players need a thicker mettle …
They’ll all demand more money because someone tried to hurt their feelings 🙂
Yesterday on this page there was an article that said HE was interested in them, but THEY had no interest in HIM. So, which is it?
Supposedly either the Steelers were not interested in him until very recently, or they were interested in him but not for the price he’s been asking.
If the Steelers wait I would prefer they sign Gabe Davis once he is healthy. Otherwise, Cooper would be a good fit.
100% agree about Davis.
Kaboly is bum. Can’t count on his reporting, like ever.
Why you continue to quote him in your articles I don’t know.
Because he knows when to put out a click bait article at the right time
Tyler Boyd catches 68% of the passes thrown his way, with an average of 11 yards per reception. These are good numbers, this is not a typical highlight reel slippery fingers fourth WR with spectacular catches and even more spectacular drops. Much better to bring in a thirty-year old sure-handed receiver than most the rest. Would be a good signing for the Steelers, particularly as Boyd holds a grudge inside the division.
That’s what I’m saying. This is a guy who has two 1,000 yard seasons to his name and would’ve had way more if he didn’t willingly accept being a #3 for Cincy. He’s a high quality WR.
I’m not Pooh-poohing the stats you’ve presented but two thoughts jump out at me. One, he had arguably the best, most precise QB in the league throwing to him. Two, he had arguably the best 1-2 combination of receivers in the league drawing a great deal of attention from secondaries, game-in and game-out
He had back to back 1,000 yard seasons before the other two came, and Burrow wasn’t the QB for most of his Bengals tenure.
In short, you’re wrong. If those two receivers weren’t there, he’d still be putting up 1,000 yard seasons.
Yes, in 2018 and 2019. He’s steadily declined since then. Again, I’m not going to get into a pissing contest with you as he’d still likely be an upgrade. There are just better options available
Not surprising he’s not liking the offers he’s seeing after last year and the way being a #3 for years in Cincy deflated his numbers.
He’s still in his prime age wise and has a more than solid proven track record but at the end of the day he’ll probably have to accept far less than he wants to in order to try for a bounce back campaign.