Brandon

Boykin

Widely viewed as a second-round talent, Boykin fell to the late fourth after suffering a fractured leg in the Senior Bowl. He was, however, healthy enough to work out for teams earlier this month. Although Boykin is a physical corner who can play inside or outside, he tackles poorly and struggles to fight off blocks. Considering his size limitations and the Eagles’ secondary needs, he’s ticketed for the slot corner role while also contributing as an ace special teamer and returner.

“He’s going to get a chance (to be our kick returner),” coach Andy Reid said. "(Special teams coordinator) Bobby (April) had him as his top combo guy.” Boykin, a homerun hitting punt returner at Georgia, will also chip as a nickel corner. Dion Lewis will be his main competition for kick return duties.

Boykin, who was injured at the Senior Bowl, only weighed in (5'9/181) and did 16 reps of 225 pounds at Monday’s Georgia Pro Day. Boykin is a projected second-day pick. It couldn’t hurt to show NFL scouts he’s healthy before the draft.

Lande has Mo Claiborne and Dre Kirkpatrick at Nos. 1 and 2. South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore is all the way down at No. 6 in Lande’s rankings, behind the top three, Janoris Jenkins, and UCF’s Josh Robinson. Boykin is a physical slot corner type with difference-making punt return value. Lande compares him to Antoine Winfield, who is similarly undersized and covers the slot.

Though built compactly, Boykin stands just 5'9/183 and got injured during the 2012 Senior Bowl, hurting his draft stock. On game tape, he was a late first- to second-round player. Boykin was Georgia’s all-time leader in kick return yardage and also returned a punt return for a touchdown. He’ll vie for both of those roles in Philly, and may be the team’s long-term slot corner.

The team source explained that Boykin graded out higher regardless of off-the-field concerns. When you do factor in character concerns, we wouldn’t be shocked to see Boykin picked before Jenkins, likely in Friday’s second round. Boykin is squeaky-clean off the field, and a more physical corner than Jenkins.

Boykin suffered a “small fracture” in his lower right leg at the Senior Bowl. “It was like a crack,” Boykin said. “I’m already walking on it. I’m expected to have a full recovery within the next month.” Speaking Sunday at the Combine, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he expects Boykin to be a second-day pick.

Injured during the Senior Bowl, Boykin missed the Combine and Georgia’s March 5 Pro Day. A projected second-day pick, he will appeal to teams in need of a physical slot corner with return value.

Boykin injured his right leg on a second-quarter special teams return and did not reenter the game. UGA radio personality Buck Belue wrote on his Twitter Saturday night that Boykin had a fractured leg, but the player insists the injury isn’t that serious. It sounds like Boykin plans to be healthy for the Combine. A projected early second-day pick, Boykin goes 5-foot-9, 183. By all accounts, he was one of the Senior Bowl’s top performers.

Hanson’s roster spot may also hang in the balance because he doesn’t help in other areas and is owed an $825K salary, more than twice as much as Boykin. In all likelihood, Boykin will be eased in on special teams while Hanson opens the season as the Eagles’ top slot corner. Boykin should take over by 2013.