After being released from the Ravens, Miles Boykin was claimed by the Steelers off waivers Tuesday. Boykin is a 25-year old wide receiver with three years of experience after being selected by the Ravens in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
#Steelers claimed WR Miles Boykin off waivers from the #Ravens, sources say.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 19, 2022
Boykin was the 13th receiver selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, picked 93rd overall just 27 picks after the Steelers selected Diontae Johnson with the 66th overall pick, early in the third round. While Johnson has progressed over his years into a Pro Bowl receiver who led the Steelers with 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021, Boykin had nowhere near that amount of success with the Ravens.
His three years with the Ravens have only produced 33 receptions for 470 yards and seven touchdowns. Johnson surpassed Boykin's career totals in all but touchdowns with just his rookie season, with 59 receptions and 680 yards during his rookie season when he was primarily catching passes from Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.
Boykin was rumored to have interest from the Steelers during the 2019 NFL Draft process and posted very impressive athletic numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine. His 4.42 time in the 40-yard dash was ninth-best among receivers that year, while his 43.5-inch vertical was the best of the class, his 140-inch broad jump was second-best, his 6.77 time in the three-cone drill was the best and his 4.07 time in the shuttle was the third best of the class. Combine that with his 6-foot-4, 220 lbs. frame and he made for a very impressive draft prospect.
But after only playing eight games in 2021 due to a hamstring injury and not catching on with the Ravens, Boykin fizzled out in Baltimore and needed a new home. The Steelers needed to add NFL talent to their wide receiver room after departures from JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington left in free agency, and Boykin fits the bill of an inexpensive but athletic option with the potential of being a reclamation project.
Adding Boykins won't preclude the Steelers from looking at this year's wide receiver class, but he will provide another body in camp to work with Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and whomever the Steelers might add at quarterback in the NFL Draft and/or free agency.
