Steelers Held Up On Price With A Deal For Tyler Boyd: "He Wants To Get Paid More Than They're Offering Him"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly been pursuing a hometown reunion with receiver Tyler Boyd since the start of free agency. After spending the first eight years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Clairton High School alumnus is still searching for a new team. The 29-year-old turns 30 in November and is coming off a 2023 season where he posted 667 receiving yards and had two touchdowns. There was a report recently that some of the team's front office wasn't 100% on board with singing the veteran receiver. According to one Steelers insider, the hang-up on a potential deal between Boyd and the franchise is financial. 

Mark Kaboly of The Athletic joined The Fan Morning Show on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday to dig into some of the team's offseason moves. Kaboly said the team is in a stalemate with Boyd. 

"They're trying to wait out Tyler Boyd," he said. "I'm not quite sure how that's going to end up going down here. I know that he wants to get paid more than they're offering him." 

Kaboly wrote on X recently that the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs could swoop into negotiations with the former University of Pittsburgh receiver. Since then, however, the Jets hosted former Los Angeles Chargers receiver Mike Williams and didn't let him leave the building without signing him. The Chiefs have also added to their wide receiver room since Kaboly suggested they could be in play for Boyd. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions added former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to their mix.

That doesn't mean the Jets, or Chiefs are completely out of the race to sign Boyd, but after those additions, their respective receiver rooms look to be filled up. Another receiver-needy team could still be waiting in the weeds, but, like the Steelers, are not thrilled with the price that Boyd's camp is looking for. 

Pittsburgh needs another wide receiver after the team sent Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens and Calvin Austin III are the only guys on the roster at the receiver position who caught passes for Pittsburgh in the 2023 season. The organization has also added Van Jefferson, but the Super Bowl winner hasn't been close to matching his breakout 2021 season when he had 802 receiving yards on 50 catches. While part of moving Johnson might be a bigger show of faith in Pickens to take on the number one role in 2024, not adding another experienced pass catcher to the mix doesn't seem wise. 

Steelers Are Continuing To Be Patient In Move For Another Receiver

Kaboly thinks it's pretty certain that Omar Khan has some more tricks to acquire another receiver. Pittsburgh has reportedly looked into San Francisco 49ers star Brandon Aiyuk. Kaboly wasn't sure that would be the right move for the team considering the draft capital likely required to get him and the financial ramifications of signing him to a new contract. 

There are still other free agent options out there. Some have suggested the team try to kick tires on Odell Beckham Jr., especially if he can come at a bargain price. Khan has shown this offseason at the quarterback position that he's not afraid to pull the trigger on low-cost moves, like a veteran minimum contract to Russell Wilson and giving up a conditional sixth-round pick to acquire Justin Fields.  

Pittsburgh has a long history of finding talented pass catchers through the draft. They could be looking at someone from the 2024 draft class to fill their current void. University of Texas receiver Xavier Worthy met extensively with the team after his school's Pro Day workout. 

Pittsburgh's top decision-makers seem to be aware of the potential void of a number two receiver and are working to try and fix it. Khan has been patiently waiting for the right deal and time will tell how that pays off. 

Who do you think is the best option for the Steelers at wide receiver? Comment below! 

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