Boykin played three seasons for the Eagles and had six interceptions in 2013. For the postseason, Boykin started in his only playoff appearance.
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With Boykin heading to Pittsburgh, one can assume that the Eagles believe that any of their recent secondary acquisitions made over the course of the season can make up for Boykin’s production at the least.
Kelly’s system has some similarity in scale to the Sooners’ offense that produced Bradford and Murray, who was NFL Offensive Player of the Year and rushed for more than 1,800 yards with the Dallas Cowboys last season. “It’s two years running with this story and it’s getting real old for me, and I’m just going to continue to be the best slot in the NFL”, he said in early June. “Very close with his teammates”. “I feel like my statistics show that and that’s what I’m focused on”. Boykin probably would have left Philadelphia in free agency after this season. With the Eagles preferring taller, longer corners on the outside, the 5-9 Boykin wasn’t seen as an ideal scheme fit for the team.
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“I think here they have certain requirements”. Pittsburgh also drafted cornerback Senquez Golson in the second round and cornerback Doran Grant in the fourth round. He couldn’t start ahead of Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher last year, even when Williams and especially Fletcher struggled badly, and Davis named Nolan Carroll as a 2015 starter ahead of Boykin opposite newcomer Byron Maxwell. He likely has more room to grow than any of them, and he’s already near the top of the list (with Marshall and Wallace) in terms of pure football talent. The 25-year-old Boykin is in the last year of his rookie deal. He’s scheduled to earn $1.542 million in 2015.
