Scouting Report - Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

This is Brandon Boykin corner from Georgia. This guy is pretty much the young Pac Man Jones without the character problems. He is a spectacular in loose man coverage and as long as he isn't asked to jam recivers he can cover pretty much anyone. He's 5'10 but has a very good vertical range he won the dunk contest on his high school basket ball team. Brandon has extremely good ball skills and plays with great intensity and has worked very hard on increasing his football IQ. Doubles as a very good return man as well.

He isn't a great tackler like most of our current corners but alot of that seems to be because of his size. I feel with the addition of some bulk to his upper body his tackling problems wouldn't be such a problem. Has a hard problem with jamming wideouts off the line. He seems to be a very scheme specific player but that scheme seems to be off man coverage as his real true strength. Not very good at sheding blocks or playing against the run but if he is one on one with a reciver in off man he can be a very succesful corner.

Boykin was one of the most successful corners in the nation this year being over shadaowed by the two nightmare DBs from LSU. Very loose hips and extremley quick feet with an unreal vertical for a man his size. His athleticisim and speed will allow him to cover pretty much anyone and has the potential to be a real game changer in the kick return game. Very good intagibles with no off the field problems. Brandons lack of strength should be a cause for concern, He is scheme specific he struggles in press man and zone coverage. If a team is willing to take a chance and play him to his strengths he could very will be a pro bowl corner. Just don't draft him and try to make him into something he is not. Worse case scenario he turns out to be an extremely big threat on special teams and a solid depth player at the corner position.

Brandon Boykin is a hard worker and willing to put forth the effort to be the best payer he can be. While he has several weaknesses that you need to be aware of. If the Lions are willing to play him soley in an off man coverage and help him try to imrpove the rest of his game. They could very well have that #1 cover corner that they so despretley need in my opinion. I wouldn't compare him to Alphonso Smith but it some way they are alike. Boykin does have a much better vertical along with other things that Smith just dosen't wake up with in the morning. While Smith dosen't have as many weaknesses as Boykin does as far as the schemes you can play him in. I think Boykin have the same Ball Hawking effects was have seen from Alphonso at his best. Your investment in Boykin I think should be no MORE than a mid second round pick. Potentially a high 3rd rounder. He is a player whos stock can definitley make a tremendous change at the combine in a few weeks. Lions have had good luck with the state of Georiga as of the last few years though so who knows. I strongly suggest you keep him on your " Players to watch" list this off season.