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In this series, I will be analyzing each of the Ravens 2019 draft picks and predicting what fans should reasonably expect from each player during their second season.
Baltimore’s third selection in the 2019 NFL Draft was wide receiver Miles Boykin out of Notre Dame in the third round with the 93rd-overall pick. Boykin was the Ravens’ second selection in the third round and their second wide receiver selected.
Boykin quickly garnered attention from the both fans and the media with a strong training camp while first-round pick Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was absent due to a Lisfranc injury suffered at the end of his season as Oklahoma. That hype quickly faded, however, as Brown exploded onto the scene in the first regular season game against the Miami Dolphins with 147 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions. Although Boykin did catch a touchdown pass in the opener, he took a backseat to Brown and remained there for the rest of the season.
Boykin finished his rookie campaign with 198 yards and three touchdowns on 13 receptions. The highlight of his season was a 50-yard catch on the opening drive against the Seattle Seahawks. Boykin’s lack of production wasn’t entirely his fault though, as Lamar Jackson missed some opportunities to connect with him, usually in favor of targeting Brown or Mark Andrews. One area where Boykin absolutely shined, however, was as a run blocker. Boykin’s willingness and effectiveness as a blocker should earn him more playing time in his second season, especially with the departure of Seth Roberts in free agency.
Luckily for Boykin, the team did not draft any receivers who should be an immediate threat to his role on offense. Both Devin Duvernay and James Proche project best as slot receivers, so Boykin will have plenty of chances to step into the role opposite of Brown on offense as the team’s “X” receiver.
An area which Boykin can improve upon this year is using his size and length to his advantage, not just as a blocker. At 6’4 220, Boykin must learn to overpower defensive backs, especially at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point if he wants to be a reliable big-body target for Jackson.
In closing, I predict Boykin’s snap count to rise from 38.46% to at least 50%. In doing so, his stats will also improve. I predict Boykin to finish with at least 400 receiving yards and five touchdowns, becoming one of Jackson’s favorite targets in the process. Such a leap would give Baltimore a solid duo at the wide receiver position. Pairing them with Andrews would leave Jackson with no shortage of reliable weapons in the passing game next season.