Can this recently released cornerback help the Dallas Cowboys?
This recently released cornerback was a Carolina Panther for just two months. Can he help the Dallas Cowboys poor secondary?
Apparently 25 is too old for a cornerback.
The Carolina Panthers released cornerback Brandon Boykin on Monday. He was signed just two months ago on a one-year deal worth $840,000.
Boykin will keep his signing bonus of $80,000.
The Panthers, under defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera, spent three draft picks on cornerbacks this past NFL Draft. The decision to release the cornerback, however, is still a surprise considering the timing of Boykin’s signing.
Lol NFL does not surprise me anymore.. Business is crazy. On to the next.
— Brandon Boykin (@BrandonBoykin2) May 16, 2016
Boykin isn’t an unfamiliar face to the Dallas Cowboys community.
He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft (123rd overall). Though the five-foot-ten corner is searching for work on what would be his fourth team in less than a year, the speedy Atlanta native was once a rising trusted star under Chip Kelly in the City of Brotherly Love.
Boykin was used primarily as a nickel-slot corner during his days in Philly and with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
He had his best season as a pro in 2013, when he started two games (playing in all 16 games) with 6 interceptions, one touchdown, 17 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and 42 tackles.
The Cowboys totaled eight interceptions in 2015.
Entering his fifth season as a pro, Boykin still has a lot to offer. The Cowboys have a propensity to take chances on players, and at the very least, should give Boykin a chance to visit Dallas headquarters.
Dallas elected to pass on arguably the best defensive player in the entire 2016 NFL Draft, watching Jalen Ramsey walk over to the Jacksonville Jaguars along with linebacker Myles Jack, another player the Cowboys could have grabbed.
The Current Group
• As it stands now, The Boys are hoping their best cornerback, Orlando Scandrick, heals and returns to top form after missing the entire 2015 season. He is 29-years-old. He tore is MCL and ACL last training camp and was placed on the injured reserve list on September 1st, 2015, which essentially marked the beginning of the end for the doomed secondary unit.
• Brandon Carr, who recently took a pay cut to patch things up and stay in Dallas, turns 30 in two days. He has not recorded an interception since 2013.
• Morris Claiborne is also returning. He signed a “prove it” contract, a one-year deal worth $3 million that could balloon into a maximum of $3.75 with incentives. He turned 26 last February.
• The Cowboys selected Anthony Brown out of Purdue this past NFL Draft, using a sixth rounder (189 overall pick) to get the five-foot-eleven corner. Brown ran a 4.35-second, 40 yard dash last combine, which ranked him second overall against the other corners. He had four picks and 15 pass deflections last year.
The Lack of Depth
Outside of rookie corner Brown, Boykin is the young dude.
The Cowboys need help. Boykin is a solid starter. Dallas is known to take on grumpy talents, providing a supportive place in exchange for talented players. This is not a Greg Hardy type of signing.
Boykin played in all 16 regular season games with the Steelers last season, along with two playoff appearances (a starter in one of them).
He had one interception and one forced fumble.
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