After losing Josh Reynolds to the Broncos, could the Lions circle back to Tyler Boyd?
The club has had 'preliminary interest' this offseason in the veteran free agent receiver, according to The Athletic. Boyd, who's coming off a four-year $43 million with the Bengals, has also reportedly drawn interest from the Chiefs, Chargers, Dolphins and 49ers.
Boyd spent the first eight years of his career with Cincinnati, eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2018 and 2019. His numbers have slowly declined since, but he still had 67 catches for 667 yards last season and 125 catches for 1,429 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Reynolds had 78 catches for 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Lions. GM Brad Holmes said last week that Reynolds was Detroit's "Plan A" in free agency at receiver, but the club was apparently unwilling to match the two-year, $9 million deal he signed with the Broncos a day later.
Boyd, given his resume, is likely looking for a bigger contract than that. He has 6,000 career receiving yards and 500-plus catches, more than double Reynolds in both categories. Both players are 29 years old.
The Lions do have the need. Amon-Ra St. Brown is their only proven receiver entering the draft. Jameson Williams remains long on potential and Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta is another weapon for Jared Goff, but Detroit's pass-catching corps is otherwise thin.
The Lions also have the wherewithal to accommodate a deal for Boyd, with the seventh most cap space ($26.9) in the NFL. The fit might not be ideal, as Boyd works mostly out of the slot and Reynolds was an outside presence for Detroit.
But an eight-year vet with seven playoff games under his belt, including the Super Bowl, Boyd could be a worthy add for a Lions team trying to get over the hump.