The Pittsburgh Steelers announced last Saturday that they had a trade deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire cornerback Brandon Boykin for a conditional 2016 fifth-round draft pick.
Boykin is entering the final year of his current contract which will earn him $1.54 million this season. Pittsburgh hope he can help with the team's issues at defensive backfield.
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the draft pick sent by the Steelers to Philadelphia might change to a fourth-round pick according to playing time.
Boykin was drafted in the fourth round in 2012 by the Eagles and spent all his three National Football League (NFL) seasons with the team.
The 25-year-old cornerback only had one interception last season after tallying six in 2013.
Boykin played majority of his time with the Eagles as a slot cornerback and is one of the best in the NFL.
But according to ESPN, the Steelers could grant him his desire of starting outside with eight-year veteran William Gay likely starting at the slot position.
"This year, I guarantee will be even better. I feel way better than I did last year. I was battling a hamstring from like the second game all the way throughout the season. ... This offseason, did yoga, did a lot of stuff just to get my body right, and I feel like I did in 2013," Boykin told Philly.com.
Boykin joins fellow cornerback Cary Williams, guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans, running back LeSean McCoy, quarterback Nick Foles, tight end/fullback James Casey, and outside linebacker Trent Cole as the notable veterans the Eagles let go this offseason, CBS Sports reported.
The Steelers are hoping the addition of Boykin can help improve their overall game as they look to have a better playoff campaign this 2015 season.
Pittsburgh finished the 2014 season with an 11–5 record reaching the postseason after missing it for two straight years but were immediately eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card playoffs game.
