Long-Time Steelers Rival & 2-Time 1,000-Yard WR Open to Signing in Pittsburgh

Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract, the only glaring weakness is their wide receiver depth, and the front office could remedy that by signing veteran slot specialist Tyler Boyd.

As a Pittsburgh area native, Boyd expressed interest in returning home to suit up for the Steelers while hosting a football camp for children in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on June 28. Pittsburgh Sports Now reporter Austin Bechtold was on the scene to speak with the long-time Cincinnati Bengals playmaker who recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2018 and 2019.

“Absolutely,” Boyd replied, after being asked if he’d ever consider playing for the Steelers. “You know, all my family is here. I would be able to have… all my family able to support me.”

Boyd went on to confirm that he thinks a Pittsburgh signing is a “realistic possibility.”

“I believe so,” he said, “because I’m real cool with [head coach Mike] Tomlin. He’s always been a good person [to me], and we always wrap it up [together after the game].”

Boyd also revealed that his relationship with Tomlin goes back to his days at the University of Pittsburgh.

“We always spoke,” Boyd said of Tomlin. Adding: “I think we had a great friendship. But, I mean, if it happens, it happens. If not, you know, it is what it is.”

Tyler Boyd’s Skillset Could Be a Match for Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

Although the Steelers probably need another boundary wide receiver more than a slot specialist, Boyd’s skillset does match Rodgers’ typical throwing windows and preferences.

The future Hall of Fame signal-caller has always operated over the middle of the field, making slot receivers and route technicians some of his best friends as a quarterback. Think Davante Adams or Randall Cobb, two players who made a living in that area with Rodgers despite varying degrees of talent.

With DK Metcalf already operating as the true X receiver and Calvin Austin as a potential Z, or WR2, Boyd could complement second-year draft pick Roman Wilson in the slot. At the very least, providing some tips for the youngster as he continues to fine-tune his game.

Boyd is coming off a disastrous season with the Tennessee Titans, but his yards per reception average (10.0 yards) was identical to his final year in Cincy, despite recording nearly 300 fewer receiving yards (390 compared to 667 in 2023) off 41 fewer targets.

At age 31 in November, Boyd certainly isn’t the playmaker he once was, but he’s still a reliable pair of hands that could push Robert Woods for a roster spot as the veteran of the room.

Steelers Must Make WR Signing Before Week 1

Tomlin and Steelers general manager Omar Khan cannot make the same mistake as last year, hoping for pass-catchers like Austin, Wilson, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek to emerge as secondary weapons behind their WR1.

In 2024, the lead dog was George Pickens, but not much has really changed with Metcalf taking over for the recent cast-off.

Pittsburgh has followed a near-identical blueprint this offseason, replacing Van Jefferson with a similarly unexciting role player in Woods. And the rest of the gang is all back for another go, except with Rodgers slinging the rock around instead of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Is that enough to seriously alter the results?