Cardinals Named Best Fit for Top Free Agent WR

Many teams want the talents of Tyler Boyd, though the Arizona Cardinals could be in play.

Dec 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

ARIZONA -- It's no secret the Arizona Cardinals are in search of receiver help.

After losing Rondale Moore and Marquise Brown in recent weeks, the Cardinals are heavy favorites to address the wideout position early in the 2024 NFL Draft.

However, The 33rd Team believes one free agent WR in Tyler Boyd would be a great fit in the desert.

"As an older, slot-only player, Tyler Boyd could find it difficult to find the right landing spot. His production dropped to just 1.16 yards per route run in 2023, which didn't help. But Boyd’s big frame (he’s incredibly tall for a slot receiver at 6-foot-2) and ability to find open space in the defense makes him an asset to any passing game," wrote Dan Pizzuta.

"Sliding Boyd would be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals' offense, which might have Marvin Harrison Jr. playing on the outside.

"Boyd would be a smart veteran player in an offense that could have Harrison Jr. and 2023 third-round pick Michael Wilson, with Trey McBride at tight end as the main 11 personnel grouping.

"Boyd could give Kyler Murray a bigger target in the middle of the field, which would be better than the other options the Cardinals have previously given Murray — such as Rondale Moore or Greg Dortch. Murray can be great in the underneath passing game—he was tied for third in EPA per play on throws between one and 10 air yards last season (0.27), and Boyd could thrive as an outlet in that area."

Boyd has proven to be fairly productive on a Bengals team that featured two wideouts ahead of him in Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, though it's unclear what Boyd's role would be if he signed to Arizona and how the Cardinals would approach the position in the coming draft.

The Cardinals - in theory - could truly bolster their attack moving forward with grabbing both Boyd and a top receiver in the draft.

Boyd will turn 30 in November and has a projected annual value of $8.7 million on Spotrac.