Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsPMC
It finally happened. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles traded cornerback Brandon Boykin to the Pittsburgh Steelers:
The #Eagles have traded CB Brandon Boykin to the #Steelers for a conditional 5th round pick in 2016, they announce.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 1, 2015
According to multiple outlets, the pick has a chance to escalate to a fourth round pick if Boykin starts for the Steelers.
This ends a tumultuous relationship between Boykin and the Eagles coaching staff. Boykin established himself as one of the best slot corners in the NFL and felt that his play warranted a look as a starter outside.
However, there were persistent rumors that Boykin was not getting his shot outside because he was too short. Billy Davis shot down those rumors last season, suggesting Boykin was not playing outside because he was not good enough:
Billy Davis, right or wrong, just didn't think Boykin was that good. This quote is from June: #Eagles pic.twitter.com/KgEqKt9vl8
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 2, 2015
With all due respect to Billy Davis, this seems like a copout to justify benching what was otherwise one of the Eagles best players in the secondary last year. Chip Kelly's preference for height and length at the cornerback position is well documented. Look no further than the corners he signed and drafted this offseason, all of whom were at least 6'0 tall.
Boykin, at 5'9, obviously did not fit Kelly's profile, and he was relegated to the slot as a result.
To be fair to the Eagles, Boykin is on the last year of his contract and will likely leave via free agency, so their leverage for a deal was somewhat limited.
However, giving up a young and talented corner for a conditional 5th round draft pick seems like a mismanagement of resources. Even if Kelly was convinced Boykin did not fit his scheme long term, he should have been able to obtain better value for Boykin.The NFL has slanted heavily towards playing three wide receiver sets, so much so that slot corners are largely considered starters.
While many have bought into what Chip Kelly has done this offseason, some, including myself, have questioned some of the moves he has made. Most concerning is the troubling pattern that has emerged which suggests Chip Kelly the general manager cannot properly evaluate and obtain fair value for his players. He released Pro Bowlers DeSean Jackson and Evan Mathis for nothing, had to be talked out of drafting former Oregon Taylor Hart in the 3rd round (he was drafted in the 5th, and did not play at all last year), and now traded one of the best slot corners in the league for a conditional 5th round pick. While you might be able to justify each move in a vacuum (and indeed, many have), they get harder to justify when you consider them collectively.
This move also raises questions about which player will man Boykin's position in the slot. Walter Thurmond is the most obvious candidate, as he has spent the majority of his career in the slot. But he is slated as the starting safety (which raises another issue entirely), and given that he has only played 36 out of 80 career games, can you really count on him to play?
That leaves the Eagles with Eric Rowe, whose size and length suggest he is better suited for outside, 6th round draft picks JaCorey Shepherd and Randall Evans, last year's 5th round pick Jaylen Watkins, and journeyman E.J. Biggers. Outside of Rowe, not one of these players inspires confidence.
While Kelly likely has an understanding of who will replace Boykin, the move seems like an unnecessary depletion of valuable depth so early in the season. If Thurmond and/or another player gets hurt (which is likely), the Eagles could be woefully thin in the secondary. Again.
But the most concerning thing to come from tonight isn't even the Boykin trade, if you can believe it. It was the sense of inevitability that hangs over the situation with another Andy Reid holdover that has butted heads with Chip Kelly: Mychal Kendricks. If former Eagles President Joe Banner is to be believed, he could be the next player shipped out:
Kendrick's next if Ryan's healthy
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) August 2, 2015
Given the return that Kelly has received with other high profile players, this has to give you pause for concern. If it doesn't, you likely haven't been paying attention.
