Just in: Tennessee Titans announce good news for Tyler Boyd as a new signing agreement is reached.

What I discovered about Tyler Boyd at the NFL Combine, and why the Titans should sign him.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans hosted veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd in Nashville this week, but he left without a contract.

However, the Titans and Boyd continue to have mutual interest, and a deal for the 29-year-old receiver may still be possible. This has been in the works for a while.

Boyd’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Titans since the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. Here’s what I learned and why I think Tennessee should strive to close this transaction.

After the Titans hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their new head coach, it only made sense for Callahan to reunite with some of Cincy’s upcoming free agents.

Tennessee did this by signing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie shortly after free agency opened. Boyd was also associated with the Titans, who were interested in him at the time.

So, while I was in Indianapolis, I spoke with a number of NFL coaches and front office personnel about Boyd. What would the Titans gain if they brought him in? Let us start with the negative news.

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.