It’s been a weird journey for Brandon Boykin in recent seasons: Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and now maybe something of a homecoming with the Atlanta Falcons.
The former Georgia Bulldog, Boykin played for the Steelers last season, playing in 16 games but starting just one. He had one interception, five defended passes and one forced fumble, as PFF ranked him as the best cornerback on the Steelers, although he didn’t get consistent, lengthy playing time until later in the season, when injuries forced Mike Tomlin’s hand.
That’s been the story for Boykin, who played for the Eagles from 2012 through 2014. He hasn’t missed a single game since being drafted by the Eagles in 2012, but he has just seven career starts. Teams are afraid of putting all of his 183 lbs against the run, and usually use him as a backup or as a nickelback, and it’ll always take injuries for him to find himself on the field to start a game.
The Panthers drafted three defensive backs and lost Josh Norman. Surely they also had room for Boykin, didn’t they? Turns out they didn’t, and he’s looking for a team again. The Falcons passed on Leon Hall because of his medical records, and plan to make some inside moves at corner, where they’re pretty short and need help, even if it isn’t from an automatic starter kind of player like Boykin. He wouldn’t be unemployed at this case if anyone thought of him as a starter.
The Falcons aren’t the only team interested in Boykin, who has eight career interceptions, six of them in 2013. Three other teams have been mentioned, but the Falcons are the first to secure a visit, and might be the ones he visits with last.