The Ravens started making cost-cutting moves yesterday, as they attempt to maximize their cap space in the lead-up to free agency next week. Another could soon be on the way, this time with wide receiver Miles Boykin. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports that the team is “seeking to deal” him (Twitter link).
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Boykin was a third round pick of the Ravens in 2019, the first year of Eric DeCosta‘s tenure as general manager. He was one of two wideouts (the other being Marquise Brown) the team drafted that year, in an attempt to rebuild the position. The Notre Dame product was met with plenty of optimism, as many felt relatively underwhelming numbers in college wouldn’t overshadow his combination of size and speed.
Things have yet pan out for Boykin in Baltimore, however. His most productive season came in 2020, where he posted 19 catches for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Relegated to playing almost exclusively on special teams (and dealing with a finger injury) last season, he registered just one catch. The team has continued to draft the position heavily, selecting two more wideouts in 2020, and another pair – including first rounder Rashod Bateman – in 2021. All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews represents, of course, further competition for targets in the Ravens’ offense.
Having struggled to develop chemistry with Lamar Jackson and increasingly buried on the depth chart, Boykin would likely be well-served by a change of scenery. Still only 25, he could provide upside to teams looking for a complimentary piece to their receiving corps. From the Ravens’ perspective, moving Boykin would make sense financially, as a trade would create just over $2.5M in cap space. It’s not surprising, then, that La Canfora states a deal is “likely”.
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