Days after the Panthers released him, Brandon Boykin will visit one of their rivals. The former Eagles and Steelers cornerback will visit the Falcons on Monday, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Falcons and three other teams reportedly had interest in the slot corner before he signed with the Panthers in late March, Ledbetter reports. Although, Atlanta is the first team to secure a visit with the 5-foot-9 player now that he’s again a free agent.
Only signed to a minimum-salary deal despite success in the slot for both Pennsylvania teams, Boykin did not stick on a Panthers roster that, despite losing Josh Norman to free agency, added three corners in the draft.
Traded from the Eagles to the Steelers last August, Boykin graded as Pittsburgh’s best cornerback last season — per Pro Football Focus — despite barely playing enough snaps to qualify for full-time status. Although not lauded for his work against the run at 183 pounds, Boykin graded as PFF’s No. 23 overall corner last year among full-time qualifiers. With the Eagles in 2014, he came in at 21st. The analytical praise notwithstanding, Boykin has only started seven games in five years.
Despite the Steelers not playing him much until injuries forced their hand in December, the 25-year-old Boykin hasn’t allowed a pass longer than 33 yards to be completed against him over the past two seasons, Sam Monson of PFF writes.
The Falcons also brought in Leon Hall for a visit but passed on the longtime Bengals cog after reviewing his medical records, Ledbetter writes. Atlanta plans to relocate Robert Alford to a nickel position and hopes Jalen Collins and win the No. 2 job opposite Desmond Trufant, although Collins must serve a four-game ban to start the season.
Boykin is a Georgia native who played for the Bulldogs in college.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Boykin played fine for the Steelers… when he knew where to line up. It became pretty obvious once he started getting playing time that he did not have the playbook down; his lining up incorrectly or covering the wrong guy got the defense burned a couple of times late in the season.
I would love to see this as a dawg and falcon fan!
Was also UGA’s kick and punt returner for at least one season in case Hester isn’t healthy he could be an option.