Miles Boykin

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/24/23

Minor moves from around the league today:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC North Rumors: Pickett, Ravens, Boykin

It appears that the Steelers‘ quarterback job is Mitchell Trubisky‘s to lose and, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett is not quite ready to push Trubisky for the role.

Pittsburgh has been riding with Trubisky as the first-team quarterback for much of the offseason with incumbent backup Mason Rudolph as the primary second stringer. While it’s become quite trendy for rookie quarterbacks to start from Day 1, Pittsburgh has stayed patient with Pickett with no plans of rushing him into the starting role.

Rudolph has proven to be better competition for Trubisky early in the preseason and has truly made things interesting. In order for him to overtake Trubisky on the depth chart, though, he’d likely have to be near perfect this preseason and will need Trubisky to fall off.

Pickett in the meantime will have this time to grow and mature at the NFL level. He still may be the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh, but he’ll have to take the old-fashioned route of sitting and learning before he gets his opportunity on the field.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC North, starting with a rumor from the rival Ravens:

  • When considering Baltimore’s weakest position groups, wide receiver and pass rusher are the two most often mentioned. But the Ravenslack of depth at inside linebacker could cause them to reach out for some help, according to Jeff Zrebiec at The Athletic. With Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes sitting out the team’s first preseason game last night, Malik Harrison and Kristian Welch saw initial snaps with the defense. Several undrafted rookies came in after that. Without even considering that the combination of Queen and Bynes is not the scariest inside linebacker duo, that depth is concerning. Zrebiec suggests the easy answer is a reunion with free agent L.J. Fort who has spent most of the last three seasons with Baltimore. If things look desperate, though, a call could always be made for a price-check on Bears’ disgruntled linebacker Roquan Smith.
  • In a question and answer this week, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly addressed the potential roster outlook at receiver for the Steelers this year. With the depth chart topped by Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, and Calvin Austin III, the question was brought up who slots in as the team’s fifth-receiver. Kaboly threw out an idea suggesting that if Austin can serve double-duty as a return-man, that could affect the roster status of Anthony Miller, Cody White, or Gunner Olszewski. But he was adamant that offseason waiver claim Miles Boykin would not be making the final roster. While Kaboly states there in an array of reasons for this certainty, he points to salary as the main one. The Steelers picked up Boykin with his rookie contract from the Ravens. The final year of that deal is set to pay Boykin $2.54MM with a $2.75MM cap hit.

Steelers Claim WR Miles Boykin

Miles Boykin will have another chance in the AFC North. A day after the Ravens moved on, the Steelers made a successful waiver claim, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

One year remains on Boykin’s rookie contract. The Steelers have an extensive track record of developing receivers, and Boykin will be leaving the NFL’s run-heaviest offense. Of course, the Steelers have an uncertain quarterback situation — one now centered around Mitchell Trubisky — and Boykin is coming off a 2021 no-show.

Even as the former third-round pick struggled to catch on in Baltimore, he did combine for seven touchdown receptions on just 32 grabs between the 2019 and ’20 seasons. Subsequent Ravens additions Devin Duvernay and Rashod Bateman surpassed Boykin on the team’s depth chart. The 6-foot-4 wideout played eight games last season and caught only one pass.

Pittsburgh lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington in free agency, opening the door for others to vie for a complementary role alongside Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Boykin and Claypool were teammates at Notre Dame. The Steelers drafted Johnson in the 2019 third round, 27 spots before Boykin. Washington signed with the Cowboys, while Smith-Schuster joined the Chiefs a year after spurning their offer to stay in Pittsburgh.

Ravens Waive WR Miles Boykin

Miles Boykin popped up in trade rumors just ahead of free agency, but the Ravens were not able to deal him. As they start their offseason program, the Ravens waived the former third-round pick.

This comes after Boykin tumbled down Baltimore’s depth chart, catching just one pass in eight games last season. This move will save the Ravens just more than $2.5MM in cap space.

A hamstring issue led to Boykin beginning last season on IR, but the Ravens had used another first-round pick on a wide receiver (Rashod Bateman) last year and had signed Sammy Watkins to play alongside Marquise Brown. After starting 24 games over his first two seasons, Boykin was relegated to backup duty during the games in which he was active. Boykin totaled 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns from 2019-20, but he entered the Ravens’ 2021 training camp on their roster bubble.

The Ravens let the injury-prone Watkins walk in free agency and did not replace him with a veteran. Baltimore’s run-centric offense led to some big-name receivers turning down offers last year, but the team does return Brown, Bateman and 2020 third-rounder Devin Duvernay, an All-Pro return man who moved past Boykin on the depth chart last year.

Ravens Looking To Trade Miles Boykin?

The Ravens started making cost-cutting moves yesterday, as they attempt to maximize their cap space in the lead-up to free agency next week. Another could soon be on the way, this time with wide receiver Miles Boykin. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports that the team is “seeking to deal” him (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Ravens Release Tavon Young]

Boykin was a third round pick of the Ravens in 2019, the first year of Eric DeCosta‘s tenure as general manager. He was one of two wideouts (the other being Marquise Brown) the team drafted that year, in an attempt to rebuild the position. The Notre Dame product was met with plenty of optimism, as many felt relatively underwhelming numbers in college wouldn’t overshadow his combination of size and speed.

Things have yet pan out for Boykin in Baltimore, however. His most productive season came in 2020, where he posted 19 catches for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Relegated to playing almost exclusively on special teams (and dealing with a finger injury) last season, he registered just one catch. The team has continued to draft the position heavily, selecting two more wideouts in 2020, and another pair – including first rounder Rashod Bateman – in 2021. All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews represents, of course, further competition for targets in the Ravens’ offense.

Having struggled to develop chemistry with Lamar Jackson and increasingly buried on the depth chart, Boykin would likely be well-served by a change of scenery. Still only 25, he could provide upside to teams looking for a complimentary piece to their receiving corps. From the Ravens’ perspective, moving Boykin would make sense financially, as a trade would create just over $2.5MM in cap space. It’s not surprising, then, that La Canfora states a deal is “likely”.

Ravens Activate WR Miles Boykin

Miles Boykin is back. The Ravens announced today that they’ve officially activated the wideout from injured reserve. The 24-year-old was designated to return in late September.

[RELATED: Ravens Designate Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin For Return]

The 2019 third-round pick had appeared in all 32 regular season games (with 24 starts) for the Ravens between 2019 and 2020. The wideout hauled in 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns through those two seasons, and he added another six receptions in three playoff games. Boykin was sidelined by a hamstring injury during training camp, leading to his IR stint.

Boykin will provide Lamar Jackson with another target, and he’ll join a depth chart that currently includes Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, James Proche II, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace.

The Ravens will presumably get additional reinforcement when first-round pick Rashod Bateman returns. The wideout was designated for return at the same time as Boykin, but his return will apparently be delayed.

Ravens Designate Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin For Return

The Ravens have designated wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin for return from injured reserve. Both players will now be able to practice with the team as they prepare to retake the field. 

Bateman underwent groin surgery in August and was forced to begin the year on IR. One of several stellar WRs in the 2020 class, Bateman registered 1,219 yards and eleven touchdowns in 2019, his last full season at Minnesota. The Ravens selected him with the No. 27 in this past year’s draft.

Up until this year, Boykin hadn’t missed a game as a pro. The 2019 third-rounder started 24 games over his first two seasons, hauling in 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Bateman and Boykin on IR, the Ravens have been working with five wideouts: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, James Proche, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace. Now they’re close to getting some reinforcements as they prepare for the Broncos in Week 4.

Ravens Place WRs Rashod Bateman, Miles Boykin On IR

The Ravens are placing a pair of wide receivers on injured reserve. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the team placed first-round pick Rashod Bateman and teammate Miles Boykin on IR. The team re-signed tight end Eric Tomlinson to take one of those open roster spots.

Bateman underwent groin surgery last month, and he was expected to be sidelined until some point in September. Now, he’ll sit out at least the Ravens’ first three games, but there’s a chance he could be back at some point in October. Bateman, one of several stellar WRs in the 2020 class, registered 1,219 yards and eleven touchdowns in 2019, his last full season at Minnesota. The Ravens selected him with the No. 27 in this past year’s draft.

Boykin hasn’t missed a game since being selected in the third round of the 2019 draft. The wideout has also started 24 games over his first two seasons, hauling in 32 receptions for 464 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Bateman and Boykin landing on IR, the Ravens are left with five wideouts on their roster: Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, James Proche, Devin Duvernay, and Tylan Wallace.

Tomlinson, 29, had a three-year stint with the Jets before bouncing between the Giants (twice), Patriots, Raiders, and Ravens. He got into six games with Baltimore in 2020, earning 123 offensive snaps.

Ravens’ Rashod Bateman To Miss Time

Rashod Bateman missed a few Ravens practices last week and is set to miss several more after going down during Tuesday’s workout. The first-round wide receiver is set to be out a while as a result, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

A soft-tissue leg injury caused Bateman to limp off a Ravens practice field today, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (video link). While Bateman is not expected to miss “a crazy length of time,” per Garafolo, the Ravens should prepare to be without their rookie wideout for a stretch.

The Minnesota product previously missed time due to a groin issue, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes. Altogether, this will force Bateman to enter his rookie season after missing extensive reps. The second first-round receiver the Ravens have taken in the past three years, Bateman is expected to play a major role as a rookie.

Key Ravens passing-game principals have run into a few issues during camp. In addition to Lamar Jackson‘s second COVID-19-induced absence, Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin have been down for more than a week due to hamstring maladies. Even though John Harbaugh indicated Brown’s absence is precautionary, Zrebiec adds the third-year deep threat has needed more recovery time than the team anticipated.

Miles Boykin On Ravens’ Roster Bubble

The Ravens spent the offseason trying to upgrade at wide receiver, having made both JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton their respective best offers in free agency. They ended up with Sammy Watkins and then drafted Rashod Bateman in the first round.

These moves, and Baltimore’s fourth-round selection of Tylan Wallace, crowd a once-thin receiver room. In addition to the Watkins-Bateman-Marquise Brown top trio and Wallace, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes 2020 third-rounder Devin Duvernay‘s roster spot is secure (subscription required). Miles Boykin, however, does not appear to be on as firm footing as training camp nears.

Baltimore drafted Boykin in the 2019 third round, bringing the Notre Dame product into the fold after selecting Brown in that year’s first round. While Lamar Jackson‘s rapport with his wide receivers has been inconsistent since he took the reins, the Ravens have not received too much from Boykin in his two-year run. The 6-foot-4 target has amassed just 32 receptions for 464 receiving yards in 32 games (24 starts).

The Ravens’ No. 2 wideout spot has resided below Brown, Mark Andrews and a multifaceted run game in this offense’s pecking order, but the franchise’s moves this offseason indicate it wants more from the position. It will lead to a Boykin role reduction, if he is to make the team.

Boykin and 2020 sixth-rounder James Proche may be battling for one spot, Zrebiec adds. Boykin saw more special teams time than the SMU product as well last season, with the former playing just 14% of Baltimore’s ST snaps compared to Boykin’s 32%. Unless the NFL’s run-heaviest team plans to keep seven wideouts, the two will vie for the final receiver spot on the 53-man roster.