Steelers claim WR Miles Boykin waivers

Steelers claim WR Miles Boykin waivers

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According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Pittsburgh Steelers have claimed waivers from WR Miles Boykin from the former Baltimore Ravens.

Boykin was waived by the Ravens over the weekend. Boykin, a third-round pick in 2019, fell behind in Baltimore but found the end zone when he was targeted. In his three-year career with the team, he caught seven touchdowns in a total of 33 receptions.

But he was particularly out of favor last season when he caught just one pass for six yards in eight games and also struggled with a hamstring injury earlier in the season. Once healthy, he logged 144 snaps (63%) on special teams. In five career games against the Steelers, Boykin caught two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown, a hook in the red zone on a mismatch against LB Vince Williams (as you can see in the photo above).

By claiming him from waivers, the Steelers will take over his contract, which is expected to pay him $2.54 million this year after he qualifies for the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator.

Boykin was a height/weight/speed monster from Notre Dame. At almost 6’4″, 220 pounds, Boykin lit a 4.42 40 with a 43.5″ vertical, an 11’8″ long jump and impressive shuttle times. As befitted, Pittsburgh showed much pre-draft interest, including an invitation to a pre-draft visit. They instead selected Diontae Johnson as a more likely 1-1 replacement for Antonio Brown.

Boykin will add depth to an otherwise thin wide receiver room. The Steelers lost JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ray-Ray McCloud and James Washington this offseason and to date have had to add something in their receiver room aside from special teamer/returner Gunner Olszewski. Receivers with NFL experience in the Steelers’ room now include Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool (Boykin’s Notre Dame teammate), Anthony Miller, Cody White, Gunner Olszewski and Steven Sims.

This signing is a bit predictable. Dave Bryan laid out all the reasons Boykin might be attractive to Pittsburgh. From his lips to Kevin Colbert’s ears.

View our 2019 Pre-Draft Profile on Boykin by clicking the link here. And here is one contextualizing its goals in 2018.