By Charlie Campbell, @draftcampbell
Two years ago, we started a series of articles on why certain prospects went undrafted. In this series, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. We got a lot of positive reader feedback about the series, so we decided to expand in the genre to investigate why some prospects slid in the draft. Last year, we started the “Why the Slide?” series, and this year it is back along with “Why Undrafted?” Feel free to email me requests for “Why the Slide?” and “Why Undrafted?” at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely respond.
Every year there are some prospects who have some vocal supporters, and for the 2016 NFL Draft, one of them was Boykin. Over the past two seasons, he put some staggering numbers in a college spread offense with the Horned Frogs. Boykin had good receiving talent and threw for over 60 touchdowns and only 20 interceptions over the past two years. However, he was not discussed as a true NFL prospect and went undrafted.
Team sources said that Boykin did not grade out as a player worthy of a pick, even in the seventh round. That is why WalterFootball.com had him rated as a free agent throughout the lead up to the draft. Boykin (6-0, 212) didn’t display the traits of a pro pocket passer and lacks the size of the vast majority of NFL quarterbacks. He played in a gimmick college offense and didn’t show the arm or pocket-passing skills that teams look for. Also, Boykin had off-the-field concerns as he was arrested following a bar fight that included assaulting an officer.
After going undrafted, Boykin signed with the Seattle Seahawks. That was an excellent choice by Boykin because Seattle is open to using mobile, athletic and undersized quarterbacks with Russell Wilson. However, Wilson is the Seattle’s franchise quarterback for many years to come, so Boykin can only hope to stick as a backup. That looks very feasible though as he and Jake Heaps are the only backups on the Seahawks’ roster. If Seattle doesn’t bring in another veteran, Boykin is in a great position to stick on the team’s roster. Boykin will probably never be an NFL starter, but he has a chance of having a career as a backup.
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