Bengals wide receiver is expected to be plucked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a major offseason move in 2024.

Pittsburgh needs to upgrade at wide receiver in order to assist the quarterback for the upcoming campaign.

 

While the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals has not been as intense in recent seasons, it dates back to a contentious 2005 season that ended with up-and-coming quarterback Carson Palmer’s torn ACL.

Following that game, a dramatic rivalry developed, culminating in the 2015 playoff game, in which Cincinnati blew the game by committing two egregious personal fouls at the end of regulation, allowing a game-tying field goal. To put it plainly, there is no love lost between these cities, which are only a four-hour drive apart, and Pittsburgh may be stealing one of Cincinnati’s most powerful weapons.

Steelers’ Offensive Woes in 2023

While the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to make the playoffs with a 9-8 record, it was clear to everyone that the offense was lacking for the majority of the 2023 season. After struggling to improve on an adequate 2022 season, there is already speculation that Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett may not be the Steel City’s future.

After being benched two years ago, quarterback Mason Rudolph may be battling for a starting spot next season after a strong finish in 2023. While anyone can speculate on who the starting quarterback will be, there is also talk about trying to find potential backup for whoever wins the job.

Diontae Johnson and George Pickens are two talented wide receivers, but Pittsburgh’s wide receiver corps is undoubtedly not among the best in the NFL. Third receiver Allen Robinson struggled to have any effect at all, catching just 34 passes for 280 yards and no touchdowns, especially after the two wideouts.
Ezoic

Pickens was the only player on the team to surpass the 1,000-yard plateau, but throughout the season, Pickens and Johnson created far more drama than any head coach could have wished for. Enhancing the wide receiver room could be a wise move if the team wants to improve the passing game in the upcoming season.

Pittsburgh Might Take the Best Talent From

Having established that Pittsburgh is in dire need of wings, let’s examine a rival team that is located nearby and has an ample supply of wings. Tyler Boyd is an obvious choice if you search the depth chart for potential candidates to go into Pennsylvania in the east.

Boyd was raised in Clairton, Pennsylvania, which is located a short distance southeast of Pittsburgh, before he became an outstanding slot receiver—ironically, the position that Pittsburgh needs the most. After that, he attended the University of Pittsburgh to play college ball until being selected by Cincinnati with the 61st overall pick in the 2016 draft.

Boyd, who was selected by Cincinnati in the first round of the draft, has become one of the NFL’s top slot receivers, accumulating 513 receptions for 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns in his eight seasons there.

In addition to his stellar stats, Boyd is actually far more skilled than his numbers indicate because he has dropped in Cincinnati’s hierarchy since the team selected Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, two new superstar receivers. Boyd is talented enough to go over the 1,000-yard mark, as he did in 2018 and 2019, if he were on a team where the receiving corps was a little less talented.
Boyd’s depreciated statistics and the fact that he is technically a third option at receiver mean that he will probably be available for a steal of $10 to $15 million per season. As much as that may seem, the value to bring in a

Boyd would be a smart addition for Pittsburgh, starting outside alongside Pickens and pushing Johnson inside. Johnson, who stands 5’10”, is better suited to catch short routes over the middle than deep passes. Boyd might also fit into the slot role he perfected in Cincinnati, depending on how he would appear in camp.

Although it is painful for Cincinnati supporters to see Boyd go, it makes sense that he would want to play for his hometown team. After all, playing at Heinz Field (now known as Acrisure Stadium due to the name change) is one of the most exciting experiences for a high school or collegiate athlete in Pittsburgh, and it would have to be