I really don't understand why he left a year early. When you look at his draft stock, there are a lot of receivers that fit his profile but are likely to go ahead of him. When does he get drafted? 5th round? 6th round?
Absent being told by BK that he'd have to 'earn his spot' again, I don't understand it.
How many slow receivers do you want ND to have? Did you watch the speed receivers on the top teams?..let him go and get some speed receivers on the team...merci
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Which Boykin would appear to fit from a size/speed situation.
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Although I do think he could have helped himself by returning. But, he’s got his degree, is healthy after his best season, and could have gotten a better grade than we think.
Very good points
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Combined with limited upside in staying.
Using a cliche I hate: he is what he is.
He had a solid year, showing some decent stats as a true #1 WR. I doubt he would have anything notably better had he stayed for 2019. There's no sense in risking injury, as he was able to finish this year without any significant injuries, and sometimes, it's better not to tempt fate.
Right now, the knock on him is his sheer speed, where he probably runs closer to a 4.60. He would fit the mold of "strong possession receiver" at the NFL level, which isn't very glamorous, nor are they drafted particularly early. Even if he had a better year in 2019, I doubt it would change his predicted draft position as a late round pick.
There's a good bit of younger talent coming through the ranks, too. Now that Kevin Austin will have had an entire off-season, I'm pretty sure he'll be ready to step in, and that would have taken away some reps from Boykin.
The key question for any player in his position: where am I better off?
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Unless he somehow gets quite a bit faster, putting up great stats won't do a whole lot to change his projection as a big plodding possession receiver with decent hands. Those players do not go high in the draft. He is better off going into the draft this year and getting paid rather than risk injury on a chance to get marginally better.
If ND would tell him they will play him at TE, the situation could change quite a bit. However, I don't think there is much chance of that.