The Titans are going to field an explosive passing offense in 2024!
The Tennessee Titans are signing free-agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd to a one-year contract. The deal is worth “up to” $4.5 million according to a report from Jeremy Fowler. Boyd was in Nashville for an in-person visit with the Titans last week.
Tyler Boyd is signing with the #Titans, per source, on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5M
A reunion with Brian Callahan. pic.twitter.com/bo1uMZedhd
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 7, 2024
This officially reunites Boyd with new Titans head coach Brian Callahan after he spent the previous five seasons (2019-23) playing in Callahan’s offense with the Cincinnati Bengals. Boyd accumulated 361 receptions for 4.144 yards and 21 touchdowns across those five campaigns. There’s obviously a lot of familiarity between Boyd and Callahan.
Boyd will be the Titans’ new primary slot receiver with DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley occupying the boundaries. Boyd played 672 of his 825 snaps in the slot last season for the Bengals according to Pro Football Focus. Even when the Bengals were nursing injuries to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Boyd almost never vacated his position as the slot receiver.
Callahan utilized 11 personnel (three-receiver sets) on 81% of offensive snaps last season. That ranked third-most in the league according to Warren Sharp. The Titans ranked near the bottom of the league in that category in 2023, running 11 personnel on just 57% of offensive snaps, which ranked 27th of 32. The Titans are about to drastically increase their 11 personnel usage in 2024 under Callahan with Boyd as the slot receiver.
usage of 3+ WR sets in 2023
95% – LAR
89% – CAR
81% – CIN
77% – IND
75% – WAS
73% – PHI
73% – CLE
72% – NYG
72% – LAC
71% – PIT
71% – TB
69% – DAL
68% – BUF
67% – ARI
66% – NYJ
65% – SEA
65% – MIN
64% – LV
64% – JAX
63% – KC
63% – GB
62% – HOU
62% – DET
59% – DEN
59% – NO
59% -…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 3, 2024
Adding the veteran Boyd also ensures the Titans won’t be relying on an unlikely breakout campaign from Treylon Burks or Kyle Philips. Those players will be relegated to backup duties if they even make the 53-man roster. Philips is a cut-down candidate as another slot-only receiver. If Burks isn’t traded (which is now increasingly likely), he’ll be a boundary-type backup for Hopkins and Ridley.
The value of the contract is outstanding for the Titans. Using language such as “up to $4.5 million” indicates incentives are built into the deal, and Boyd will be earning a base salary less than that, while carrying a lower cap charge. For context, the less-proven D.J. Chark signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers worth $5 million last week. This is fantastic negotiating by Titans general manager Ran Carthon.
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