Free agent large receiver Tyler Boyd is signing a one-year deal value as much as $4.5 million with the Tennessee Titans, a supply informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.
The transfer reunites Boyd with new Titans coach Brian Callahan, who had been Boyd’s offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019.
At Tennessee, Boyd will be part of a depth chart that already contains free agent Calvin Ridley, who signed a four-year, $92 million contract in March, and five-time Professional Bowl choice DeAndre Hopkins. It additionally contains 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks, whose future with the Titans has been the topic of hypothesis this offseason.
Burks hasn’t made a major impression since going 18th general two years in the past. He has simply 49 receptions for 665 yards and a landing in 22 video games.
The teaching employees mentioned they plan to have Burks line up at a number of spots within the formation, simply as they possible intend to make use of Boyd and Hopkins.
“He is a first-round decide, clearly you’ll be able to see all of the expertise,” offensive coordinator Nick Holz mentioned of Burks. “However he will get what he earns.
Callahan talked about the slot place as an space the place the Titans have been missing.
“We have to have any person come up for us at receiver place by place once we’re right down to 11,” Callahan mentioned earlier than the draft. “You want depth at each place. You’ll be able to’t have sufficient guys who’re fast, explosive and bodily.”
Boyd, who beforehand performed principally within the slot beneath Callahan, ought to fill that want in Tennessee.
Boyd began in 13 of his 17 begins final season — his eighth with the Bengals — and completed with 67 catches for 667 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He ranks sixth in franchise historical past in receiving yards (6,000) and fourth in receptions (513), whereas additionally scoring 31 touchdowns.
Boyd was one of the instrumental gamers in Cincinnati’s turnaround from the NFL’s worst staff to just about profitable the Tremendous Bowl. The eighth man was one in every of 4 gamers on final yr’s roster that coach Zac Taylor inherited from Marvin Lewis’ employees when he was employed in 2019.
Offensively, Boyd helped transition from the Andy Dalton-AJ Inexperienced tandem the Bengals relied on for almost a decade to the present model of the Bengals, which options quarterback Joe Burrow and large receiver Ja’Marra Chase.
Boyd, 29, led the Bengals in complete receptions from 2018 to 2020. Along with being a dependable slot receiver, he was a fixture within the locker room and helped develop Chase, a three-time Professional Bowler who was drafted in 2021. large receiver Tee Higgins , who was drafted together with Burrow in 2020.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport and Ben Child contributed to this report.
