It made too much sense not to happen.
The Panthers needed a nickel cornerback. Brandon Boykin was the best nickel available. According to a source, Boykin wanted to land in Carolina as soon as free agency opened.
It took nearly three weeks for him to get an invite to visit, but when he did, it took just a few hours to get a deal done. The match was made official Monday when Boykin signed a 1-year contract.
"It was really just a no-brainer," Boykin said on a conference call with Carolina media. "It's a team that I always wanted to have be interested in me and the stars really aligned for it. Most importantly for me was the opportunity to come in here on a team that's already established as a Super Bowl contender."
With the Panthers planning to move Bené Benwikere to the outside, Boykin will immediately slide into the slot. That's where he thrived in his four previous seasons, but he can also play on the outside if needed.
"Brandon brings a lot of versatility,” general manager Dave Gettleman said. “He’s athletic, smart, instinctive, tough, and has quality ball skills. Brandon is a very good piece for our defense and brings solid special teams value as well."
Boykin was the Eagles' main kickoff returner as a rookie in 2012, averaging the league's third-most yards per attempt. At 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, he's likely too small to take the role from incumbent Fozzy Whittaker, but Boykin provides some insurance back there.
He played plenty of special teams last season with the Steelers, and few in Pittsburgh still understand why.
The Steelers gave the Eagles a fifth-round pick for Boykin in August, but then kept him on the bench while their secondary was exposed week after week. When they finally gave him full-time snaps, he was a big help in Pittsburgh's playoff push.
"I'd describe it as just a really weird year, honestly. A lot of things that happened to me that were out of my control and I still don't understand, but the past is the past," Boykin said.
"I've been in Pennsylvania for my entire career, so being able to come back close to home and being able to be on a team like this is everything you could ask for."
Born in Atlanta, Boykin led Fayette County High School to state championships in both football and basketball. He stayed in state to star at Georgia, winning the Paul Hornung Award as a senior. Boykin is the second player on the Panthers defense to win that honor, given to the most versatile player in college football. Linebacker Shaq Thompson was the 2014 recipient.
@Panthers @BrandonBoykin2 congrats bro. Crazy how we talked about it
— Shaq Thompson (@ShaqThompson_7) March 28, 2016
Defiantly hope we sign my boy @BrandonBoykin2 #weneedmoredawgs
— charles johnson (@randywattson) March 27, 2016
Boykin also adds to the Georgia Bulldog population in the Panthers' locker room, joining linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Charles Johnson. And while those two have each played double-digit seasons, Boykin's intrigued by how the Panthers' defense is still developing.
"Everybody's young, guys are still coming into their own and I feel like that's exactly what I am — a young guy that's had success, but needs that opportunity to be all that I know I can be," the 25-year-old said. "I know I've got an extremely high ceiling that hasn't been reached yet and this is the best opportunity that I could possibly ask for to maximize it."
According to Boykin, he received "at least four" offers during free agency. That it's a 1-year deal is interesting, since Gettleman has wanted to avoid those. But ultimately, it's a match that makes complete sense.
"It was a matter of the opportunity more so than it being the most money or the first team to come get me. That's not what my free agency process was about," Boykin said. "It was about me finding the best fit in the best place and this was without a doubt the best place."