Steelers named possible landing spot for former 1,000-yard WR available in free agency

Mike Moraitis

Steelers named possible landing spot for former 1,000-yard WR available in free agency image

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After being widely expected to land a wide receiver at the NFL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers came away with nothing on Nov. 4.

But the Steelers' failure wasn't for a lack of trying. Pittsburgh was snubbed by both Rashid Shaheed and Jakobi Meyers, who were given a choice on where to go with offers being equal.

Shaheed chose the Seattle Seahawks over the Steelers and Meyers decided to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars instead of Pittsburgh.

Since then, the Steelers have signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but he is hardly a guaranteed solution to fill the void behind DK Metcalf.

Pittsburgh should still be exploring its options, although we know the pickings are very slim at this time of year. However, there is a two-time 1,000-yard wideout available right now.

That is former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who was recently suggested as a good fit for Pittsburgh by FanSided's Mark Powell.

Boyd is not the receiver he once was with the Cincinnati Bengals. There's a reason he's still unemployed, despite the need at an important skill position in the modern NFL. Boyd, who starred at Pitt and broke into the league with Cincinnati as a No. 3 wide receiver next to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, is a former 1,000-yard talent who could help any team down the stretch.

Given his Pittsburgh connection, he makes all the sense in the world on the Steelers. While Mike Tomlin's team just signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling and added him to the practice squad, they're still lacking a true No. 2 wideout. Boyd might not be that at this point in his career, but he can't hurt.

Boyd posted 1,000-yard seasons with the Bengals in 2018 and 2019, and he has four 800-yard seasons in total.

He last played in the NFL in 2024 with the Tennessee Titans, where he tallied just 390 yards in 16 games. It is fair to point out, though, that the Titans had a terrible quarterback situation and one of the worst offenses in the NFL.

Boyd was actually connected to the Steelers during the offseason after the veteran said he "absolutely" would play for Pittsburgh in June and believes he still has a few years left in him.

Boyd, who will will turn 31 this month, isn't likely to solve all of the Steelers' issues at wide receiver, but the fact that there's at least a chance he could help should put him on Pittsburgh's radar.

The Steelers also just had a practice squad spot open up after the New York Giants poached Isaiah Hodgins, so Pittsburgh has the room to add him there.

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Contributing Writer