Adrian Fedkiw
Brandon Boykin was one of the few head-scratching moves that Chip Kelly got right.
After shipping the slot cornerback to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional fifth-round draft choice last summer, many in Philadelphia were enraged about the decision. With Kelly preferring longer and taller cornerbacks on the outside, the 5-foot-9 Boykin was made available because he was set to become a free agent at the end of the year. Kelly also believed at the time that the Eagles had depth in the slot.
Turned out the Eagles were onto something.
Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake provided some interesting details Saturday while speaking at the Steelers’ Men’s Fantasy Football Camp. Steelers fan Craig Scott was in attendance during Lake’s speech and explained via twitter that Boykin had a “degenerative hip condition.”
https://twitter.com/CraigScott31/status/739147563522199552
https://twitter.com/CraigScott31/status/739147239726166021
https://twitter.com/CraigScott31/status/739147366096326657
Not only did Boykin not start for a Steelers team in a dire need for cornbacks, he barely even played. Pittsburgh didn’t re-sign him and the Carolina Panthers offered him a deal with only $80,000 guaranteed before he was cut. The Atlanta Falcons then passed on him after nearly offering him a contract and Boykin is now currently a free agent.
Boykin posted just 21 tackles and an interception while with Pittsburgh.
Can’t help but feel horrible for Boykin if true.