Cincinnati Bengals make huge mistake neglecting to retain offensive weapon

Up until earlier today, Cincinnati fans had retained some level of hope that outstanding slot receiver Tyler Boyd would be returning to the team next season.  It may have seemed like a long shot but after his free agency market seemed to evaporate before his eyes, it seemed logical that the franchise would reach out in an effort to retain their consistent interior receiver.

That hope was dashed when Boyd was picked up by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday for a minuscule $4.5 million for one season.  This was an excellent acquisition for first-year head coach Brian Callahan as Boyd will round out a terrific trio of wide receivers that will include Boyd, former Texans superstar DeAndre Hopkins, and former Jaguars standout Calvin Ridley.  The move is a total steal for Callahan as Boyd is still considered amongst the best slot receivers in the entire NFL.

While this is a complete win for Tennessee, it is a colossal head-scratcher for the orange-and-black stripes.  Boyd has been a fan favorite in Cincinnati after he was drafted to accompany legendary receiver A.J. Green during the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.  While he had fallen back in the depth chart after the drafting of talented wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, Boyd remains a capable starting wideout with elite ball-catching abilities.

The logic was too obvious for Cincinnati: now that it is almost guaranteed that Higgins won’t be playing for Cincinnati in 2025, retaining Boyd would have kept an extra degree of consistency on a rapidly changing offense.  This unit already lost long-time running back Joe Mixon this offseason and another major player on the offensive side of the ball leaving town will make life difficult for elite quarterback Joe Burrow.

It had been assumed that the team wouldn’t be able to keep Tyler Boyd but that was when it was expected that he would be demanding approximately $12 million per year for a contract.  $4.5 million for the level of production that Boyd provides is an absurd bargain particularly after the wide receiver market has ballooned this offseason.  Just as a reference, Boyd will be making less than 25% of the new contract that Gabe Davis just signed with the Jaguars, and aside from a monstrous game in the 2023 NFL Playoffs, Davis has been virtually nonexistent for the Bills during his tenure.

It certainly feels like the front office has been asleep at the wheel this offseason and hopefully, the results don’t yield a poor display during the kickoff of the 2024 regular season in just a few more months.