The Baltimore Ravens’ offense is returning 10 of their 11 starters from last season. Though they took the league by storm and led the NFL in scoring last year, the hope is further development from their young players will see the team actually improve in 2020. And while all the attention and excitement is focused on quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin shouldn’t be forgotten about.
Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Boykin seemingly has everything a team would want from a top wide receiver. Boykin stands at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, making him a massive target capable of bullying defensive backs for contested passes and withstanding the beating of a full 16-game season. But he also has plenty of speed, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. With the same exact measurements in the 2020 combine, Boykin’s former Notre Dame teammate Chase Claypool earned comparisons to NFL legend Calvin Johnson this year.
With the size and speed already checked off, it’s up to Boykin to improve upon the tangibles of the position — route running, hands, and a better understanding of the Ravens’ offensive concepts. Though Boykin showed a few flashes last season, it’s perfecting these things that will make him a more consistent weapon.
Boykin has already been hard at work this offseason, though he hasn’t had an opportunity to practice with Jackson due to social distancing restrictions. But Boykin has plans to meet up with Jackson next week to get some offseason workouts in with the starting quarterback. If Boykin can build his chemistry with Jackson, he could be the recipient of a lot of targets this season. Seth Roberts left in free agency, leaving Boykin as the top outside wide receiver on Baltimore’s roster. With very little competition on the depth chart, Boykin is practically being inked in for the starting job for 2020.
Granted, outside receivers haven’t fared very well in the current version of the Ravens’ offense, with slot receivers and tight ends getting most of the targets. That reared its head again last season with Roberts being primarily used as a downfield blocker, only catching 21 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Boykin is the first Baltimore receiver since Anquan Boldin to have the rare combination of size and speed to succeed in that role. With an offense that now has so many threats all over the field (Jackson’s rushing ability, the now four-headed monster at running back, tight end Mark Andrews, and wide receiver Marquise Brown), Boykin shouldn’t be singled out by defenses in the way Boldin often was. Considering Boldin had 186 receptions for 2,645 yards and 14 touchdowns over three seasons with the Ravens, Boykin having the potential to exceed that is awfully exciting.
Enter his second season, Boykin is primed for a breakout performance. He’s got the opportunity to see a lot of targets and the physical traits to make defenses pay. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all together on the field.
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