Carolina Panthers: Brandon Boykin is a potential solution
Brandon Boykin is a player that can fill a void if Josh Norman doesn’t remain with the Carolina Panthers.
The defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers are having a strong offseason.
NFL Spin Zone colleague Russell S. Baxter recognized the group after putting together a strong team with a good chance to return to the Super Bowl. When looking at the men they’ve added to their roster, one stands out as a central piece for the upcoming year, but also years to come.
At this point in time, cornerback Brandon Boykin is the most important free agent added to this Panthers unit.
It’s clear that the Panthers organization values a powerful defense. They closed out the year with one of the top ranked groups in the entire league. Leaders such as Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis are paired with the returning Charles Johnson, Kurt Coleman and others to make up a defensive unit that can impose its will on the opposing team.
Boykin is a welcome addition to this group, especially when looking at the still-developing Josh Norman situation.
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On Monday, ESPN reported that Boykin signed a one year deal with the Panthers. He’s going to fill in as the Panthers nickelback, but do not be surprised if he is moved around to fill in other places as needed. He’s coming off a relatively quiet year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his biggest season came back in 2013 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was during this time that he showed flashes of potential to become a marquee cover corner. Boykin closed out the year with six interceptions, two forced fumbles and 42 total tackles. Even though his numbers since that season do not jump off the page, he gives the Panthers a potential insurance option if they can’t come to an agreement with Norman for a long-term deal.
Norman put together a stellar 2015 campaign and is looking to receive a new contract for his efforts. The Panthers used the franchise tag on him and have until July 15 to finish a long-term deal. While negotiations are underway, the two sides aren’t close to a deal.
This is quite the change of direction for Norman, who started out slowly with the Panthers but has used the last two seasons to become a major part of this great defense.
Boykin will not be the only option available to the Panthers. For example, Vonn Bell and Sean Davis are two players that will be available in the draft and could fall to the Panthers during the first and second rounds.
No one should be surprised if the organization uses one of their early picks to select another defensive player as a long-term prospect.
The Josh Norman situation is a compelling storyline for the Carolina Panthers. The addition of Brandon Boykin is another step to solidify the team’s foundation if they can’t resign one of the most important parts of their defensive unit.
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Boykin’s career has shown a lot of potential and improvement, so if he’s called upon to take a major role in this defense after this one-year deal is over, he’s the type of player that can become a solution to a steadily building problem.