Cincinnati Re-sign $89 Million Former WR Star Player Due To…
The Miami Dolphins have shown interest in signing former Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tyler Boyd, as per The Athletic.
Boyd, 29, was drafted by the Bengals in the 2016 NFL draft, and has spent each of the last eight seasons in Cincinnati. Last season, Boyd recorded 67 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns, serving as the No. 3 target for most of the season.
The Athletic say that Boyd was initially “extremely interested” in signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the start of the offseason, but wasn’t comfortable with the offer. Since then, Boyd has at least had “preliminary interest” from the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers.
The eight-year NFL veteran would be a welcome addition to Miami’s offense, who currently lack a surefire No. 3 option. Though Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle recorded 2,813 combined receiving yards last season, injuries to both players in the second half of the season exposed Miami’s lack of offensive depth. The Dolphins are definitely on the market for their new No. 3 option, having met with free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. two weeks ago.
Whether it be Boyd, Beckham Jr., or a rookie in the NFL Draft, the Dolphins still have cards left to play on offense this offseason.
Protect Joe Burrow. It’s a strategy fans and experts alike have been pounding the table for years and the Cincinnati Bengals have the opportunity to continue to fortify the trenches at 18th overall.
As a result, they are hosting Washington tackle, Troy Fautanu, on a Top 30 visit.
Washington LT Troy Fautanu is on a top 30 visit with the #Bengals today, per source.@MoveTheSticks has Fautanu ranked as the NFL Draft’s 12th-best player. pic.twitter.com/jBGRmSlt02
At 18, the Cincinnati Bengals could have their pick of the litter when it comes to offensive and defensive line. The likes of Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, and Amarius Mims are often popular picks. However, the Bengals may think they have an opportunity to draft one of the best tackle prospects in the draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals did go out and sign Trent Brown to shore up the right tackle position but he is only on a one-year deal. Plus, Ted Karras is set to be a free agent in 2025 and the offensive line depth is a bit of a mess in Cincinnati.
Fautanu is often projected as a guard at the next level, so he could even challenge Cordell Volson at left guard and the team can make an adjustment in 2025.
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Bengals Look To Fan Flames of AFC’s Hottest Home Record In Last 20 Games
The Bengals are rolling on the river.
With nine of the biggest crowds in Paycor Stadium history watching eight wins during the last two calendar years, Cincinnati has established the AFC’s most formidable home-field advantage.
Echoed by top-five finishes in each of the last two seasons from the league-wide Voice of the Fan survey that measures the game day experience, the Bengals have drawn more than 65,000 in 17 straight Paycor games.
And in the last 20 dates, per Elias, the Bengals are the AFC’s toughest visit with an .800 winning percentage at home. Their 16-4 record trails only 18-4 San Francisco and 17-4 Dallas since Christmas, 2021.
Like Bengals head coach Zac Taylor this offseason, manager of game and event entertainment Alex Schweppe is looking at making it even better.
“We want to make sure every game feels differently,” Schweppe says. “Our fans pack the stadium. Making sure we give our returning fans a new product is important to us. You can’t experience new traditions like the Ruler of the Jungle and Rock n’ Rule Fourth Quarter without being at the game. We’re trying to make it the most unique experience it can be with traditions and rituals for the fans.”
Two of the nine biggest crowds saw Wild Card playoff victories. The biggest crowd of 67,260 on Sept. 29, 2022, watched the defending AFC champion Bengals beat the Dolphins, 27-15, in a Thursday night game quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 287 yards.
But the game that stands out for Schweppe is last season’s Sunday night win over Buffalo. If the Bengals were ready for prime time with a 397-yard offensive effort during a 24-18 victory, so were the fans and their striping of “The Jungle.”
“It was an incredible experience to see the fan buy-in and create that everyone-is-on-it feeling,” Schweppe says. “That game was electric from the pregame, halftime, all the way to the last snap and the fans made the difference. That’s what we’re looking for.”
And, like Taylor, Schweppe isn’t tipping his hand on what the foe is going to face in 2024. But he did offer a teaser.
“We’re going to emphasize our division games,” Schweppe says. “The AFC North is the best division in football. We’re going to really look at our game day elements and make sure all of those are included for those division games. I think it’s going to be a really big point of emphasis.”