3 free-agent wide receivers the Commanders could sign (and 3 to avoid)

Commanders could sign Tyler Boyd

Tyler Boyd is the steadiest wide receiver available. He is not flashy, but after his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals - when he was injured - the pass-catcher has produced six consecutive years of at least 55 catches and more than 650 receiving yards.

His numbers have dropped considerably in recent years after Cincinnati drafted more explosive receivers like Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Boyd has run more plays from the slot as a classic possession receiver. But he has still produced.

Throughout his career, Boyd has caught 68 percent of his targets. That is an excellent number - one that is often overlooked.

Receivers who run deeper routes tend to catch a lower percentage of their targets, so yards-per-catch matters. Decent receivers in today’s game should at least catch 60 percent of their targets, regardless of the depth of their route patterns. Out of all the available wide receivers, Mike Williams has the best target efficiency at 9.4. Higgins comes in at 9.1. Both have catch percentages of at least 60%.

As a point of comparison, Terry McLaurin's target efficiency is 8.6, higher than any other free agent. His catch rate is 62 percent. As a short-term bridge, Boyd would be excellent. Recent reports have the Pittsburgh Steelers very interested in signing him.