Newsstand: Former Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin signs with Giants
If you want to be an NFL backup, you have to play special teams. Few understand that better than former Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin.
Boykin signed with the New York Giants for his sixth NFL season, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. The Giants did not reveal the terms of his contract.
Boykin spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he caught a combined 5 passes for 28 yards in two years. He played sparingly on offense in 14 games this past season, primarily as a run blocker.
However, Boykin also played 538 snaps on special teams for the Steelers in those two years, across the punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return teams. He totaled 16 solo tackles and 2 assists, earning himself a reputation as a core special teamer.
With rookie contracts in the NFL being so inexpensive under the current collective bargaining agreement, veteran players with minimal offensive or defensive production often find themselves cast aside in favor of younger, cheaper reinforcements. The ones who stick around are almost always valuable on special teams, and Boykin is no exception.
Boykin broke out as a senior at Notre Dame, catching 59 passes for 872 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2018. He entered the 2019 NFL Draft and was selected in the third round (No. 93 overall) by the Baltimore Ravens.
Top 10
- 1Hot
Strength of Schedule
Ranking SOS of CFP Top 25
- 2
Cignetti responds
Hoosiers HC fires back at SEC
- 3
Portnoy bets on Bama
$100k wager to win $1.1M on Alabama
- 4
Mack Brown
UNC coach plans to return in 2025
- 5Trending
Ray Lewis
FAU sources respond to Ray Lewis report from ESPN
The Tinley Park, Ill. native caught 32 passes for 464 yards in his first two seasons, but the Ravens released him in April 2022 after he only caught 1 pass in Year 3. One day later, the Steelers claimed him off waivers.
Boykin is one of two former Notre Dame players on the Giants, joining cornerback Nick McCloud. McCloud is a restricted free agent after the Giants tendered him a one-year, $2.9 million contract. He can either sign that or sign an offer sheet with another team, which New York would have five days to match.
Notre Dame Tweets of the day
Mike Denbrock knows his stuff.
Riley Leonard is feeling better than ever.
Notre Dame softball beat Western Michigan on a walk-off home run from junior infielder Anna Holloway.
Quote of the day
“Jaylen Sneed has gone — from when we ended bowl practice, to now — has made the biggest jump, maybe of anybody in terms of being locked in, in terms of playing in football position, starting it in [his] stance, moving with purpose. All those little things that Jaylen knows, ‘If I can do those things, the sky’s the limit. If I can focus in on the details and do the little things, I can make the plays.’ And that’s something I’m really proud of him for. He’s done it on first, second down. He’s done it on third down. We’re still working, but he is someone who has flipped the switch and understands what’s at stake here.”
— Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough
Headlines of the day
- Top 75 recruit, USC legacy RJ Sermons explains excitement for upcoming Notre Dame visit
- Observations from spring practice No. 9: Offense
- Observations from spring practice No. 9: Defense
- Why Notre Dame is currently a ‘high pick’ for in-state DL recruit JJ Finch following first visit
- Quick hitters: What Notre Dame LBs coach Max Bullough said in spring practice
- How Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is progressing after second ankle surgery
- Five things Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli said in spring practice
- Top-50 RB recruit Javian Osborne raves about Notre Dame football
- Four-star CB Shavar Young earns Notre Dame offer during South Bend visit
- Why Jaylen Sneed may be Notre Dame’s most improved player in spring ball
- Former Notre Dame forward Matt Zona commits to Fordham
- Lucky Charms: Notre Dame football recruiting notes