He played college football at Pittsburgh, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Boyd was selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic (Western Pennsylvania vs. Eastern Ohio) and was named the game's MVP after accounting for five touchdowns (91-yard kick return, 68-yard halfback option pass, four-yard run and scoring catches of 16 and five yards).

Boyd also played basketball at Clairton, helping lead the Bears to the WPIAL Class A title game and the PIAA playoffs as a senior, and was a baseball letterman as well.

Following his senior season, Boyd was selected to play in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio's Alamodome, where he announced his decision to attend the University of Pittsburgh during NBC's live telecast.

He had five 100-yard receiving games, topping Fitzgerald's freshman school-record total of four, and also set the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record for receptions as a freshman, topping the mark held by Clemson's Sammy Watkins (82 catches in 2011).

), including a dazzling 34-yard touchdown grab in the back of the end zone on the final play of the first half; he also rushed for a 33-yard score against the Lobos, earning ACC Receiver of the Week and 247Sports National True Freshman of the Week honors for his performance.

Boyd was known for making several highlight reel plays because of his hands and awareness for the sideline that helped him being selected All-ACC by the league's media (second team) and coaches (third team) as well as a Freshman All-American by Athlon, CollegeFootballNews.com, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele, Sporting News, 247Sports, and ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Boyd's receiving yardage against the Falcons set a Pitt bowl record, surpassing the 36-year-old mark of 163 set by Gordon Jones in the 1977 Gator Bowl against Clemson, while his punt return touchdown was Pitt's first since Darrelle Revis had a 73-yarder against West Virginia in 2006.

In his second year at Pitt, Boyd made an impact as a wide receiver and return man.

against Iowa; with his performance, Boyd went over 100 career receptions, tying Larry Fitzgerald for fewest games needed to reach the century milestone for catches at Pitt (17 contests).

[16] In Week 17, Boyd caught his third career touchdown on 4th and 12 with 53 seconds left, giving the Bengals a 31–27 lead over the Baltimore Ravens.

[19] He recorded another great outing in the next game against the Atlanta Falcons with 11 receptions for 100 receiving yards in the 37–36 victory.

[26] In Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Boyd caught ten passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the 26–23 loss.

[28] During Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins, Boyd finished with nine catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals lost 35–38 in overtime.

[30] In Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, Boyd caught seven passes for 72 yards and his first receiving touchdown of the season during the 35–30 loss.

[35] In the 2021 season, Boyd was part of a receiving unit that contained Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

[37] In the Wild Card Round against the Las Vegas Raiders, Boyd caught a touchdown on a controversial play where there was an inadvertent whistle.

[46] On May 13, 2024, Boyd signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, joining head coach Brian Callahan who was his offensive coordinator with the Bengals.