Tyler Boyd projected as Cincinnati's top rookie in 2016

Former Pitt receiver Tyler Boyd is expected by many to make an immediate impact with the Cincinnati Bengals this season and should be on the field in a variety of capacities for his new NFL team. ESPN predicted each NFL team's top rookie and guess who was Cincinnati's?

This might not be the slam dunk that it appears, but we'll still go with the most logical answer here: Tyler Boyd. The Bengals had a big need at receiver after Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones left in free agency. With Boyd's selection in the second round, the Bengals ended up with a young wideout who can become a No. 2 (or No. 3; don't forget about free-agency addition Brandon LaFell) receiver rather quickly. That said, depending on how training camp goes for first-round cornerback William Jackson III, he could factor into defensive back rotations too. Fourth-round defensive tackle Andrew Billings also could be a possible two-down addition to a line that already includes the likes of Geno Atkins and Domata Peko on the interior.

Realistically, as a second-round pick playing a position where the team needs help, Boyd should be capable of making an impact. But he also wasn't the team's first-rounder and we've all seen later picks produce. He will have the chance to be the team's starter opposite star A.J. Green and at the very worst, looks like the No. 3 guy if the team doesn't pick up any additional players before the start of the season.

It's also easy to like Boyd's chances of producing on the field because the Bengals have a capable quarterback in Andy Dalton. And as a reader recently suggested in one of the comments section, Boyd actually won't be the focal point with a lot of attention shifted to Green.

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