Brandon Boykin to Bears: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Published by Alec Nathan on July 27, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Brandon Boykin has had trouble finding a permanent home since entering the NFL in 2012, but he’s hoping a stay with the Chicago Bears will last longer than his stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.
The Bears announced they signed the defensive back Wednesday, while Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times initially reported the deal.
The one-year deal is a minimum salary of $760,000 with no guarantee, and it’ll count as $600,000 against the Bears’ cap, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune on Saturday.
A fourth-round pick out of the University of Georgia, Boykin shined with the Eagles as a slot corner during his second year in the pros. After recording 26 total tackles and zero interceptions as a rookie, the 5’9″ defensive back broke out for 47 tackles and six picks in 2013—including one he returned for a touchdown.
Boykin also defended a stellar 17 passes during his breakout campaign. To put that number in perspective, he has tallied 19 defended passes in his other three NFL seasons combined.
However, the Eagles cut Boykin’s time with them short, trading him to Pittsburgh last August. Boykin appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers, but he was seldom used and managed just 21 tackles and one interception.
Boykin went on to ink a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in March that included an $80,000 signing bonus, but the team cut him just two months later following the NFL draft:
Boykin’s inability to latch on with one team and carve out a niche since being traded by the Eagles is a red flag, but he’s still capable of producing.
“The now former Panther has a positive PFF grade in every season of his career and hasn’t been beaten for a pass longer than 33 yards over the past two seasons, a time span over which he has allowed just one touchdown,” Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson wrote.
If Boykin can round into form and make a good impression upon arrival, he could be one of the bigger steals of the offseason.
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