Could Ja’Marr Chase help Cincinnati offset the loss of Tyler Boyd in the slot? - tchieu

The Cincinnati Bengals lost long-time wide receiver Tyler Boyd this offseason. It was a brutal sting for many fans, but it was one that seemed inevitable as the Bengals prioritized other long-term deals.

While a few months ago, everyone thought it was going to be to Pittsburgh, where Boyd played his collegiate football, he ended up with the Tennessee Titans. Replacing Boyd will be easier said than done, and his locker room presence was just as great as his play.

The Bengals will have many options, both in the slot and then deep. Boyd was the team’s main option in the slot, and moving others there could take away a potential deep-threat target.

One of those options in the slot could be superstar receiver Ja’Marr Chase. While Chase didn’t normally play in Boyd’s go-to spot and was used all over the field frequently, he was proficient when he was in the slot, as Taylor Cornell noted on Twitter.

Chase has been an absolute stud since entering the NFL in 2021. The fifth overall pick and having won the 2019 Fred Biletnikoff Award, Chase was a highly-touted prospect coming out of LSU. With former ties to Joe Burrow already, it was a perfect match, and Chase has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.

Chase went for a career-best 100 receptions last season and, with an improved offensive line and no Boyd, could look to put up career-high numbers across the board this season, though it will be hard to top the 1,455 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns he ended his rookie season with.

According to Pro Football Focus, Chase has logged 382 career regular-season snaps in the slot, good for a rate of 21.2%. If he can unlock a level and play more in the slot, the 24-year-old may see his production tick up, especially when it comes to his sheer reception numbers.

Other potential options for the slot could include veteran Trenton Irwin, second-year man Charlie Jones, rookie Jermaine Burton, or even tight end Mike Gesicki, which is what was discussed on the latest edition of Willie and Matt Know Ball.