Why Aren't the Steelers Giving CB Brandon Boykin More Playing Time?

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded a 2016 fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for cornerback Brandon Boykin in August, it seemed as though Boykin was destined to play a big role on the Steelers defense, if not outright serve as the starting slot cornerback.

But now, five games into the 2015 season, Boykin has barely been spotted on the field. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Boykin has played in just two games for a total of 13 snaps and has only two tackles and one pass defensed. He was targeted three times in his Steelers debut in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, allowing two catches for 32 yards and a score. He wasn't targeted at all in his two defensive snaps played against the St. Louis Rams in Week 3.

Game	Snaps	Tackles	Tgts.	Rec.	Rec.%	Yds.	YAC	TD	INT	PD
vs. SF	11	1	3	2	66.7%	32	2	1	0	1
@ StL	2	1	0	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0	0
Total	13	2	3	2	66.7%	32	2	1	0	1

Aside from that, Boykin has only been seen on the field in a special teams capacity. So what gives?

Even though the Steelers secondary has seen its fair share of struggles this year, Boykin hasn't been turned to as an answer.

And even Boykin doesn't even know why, saying to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly after the team's Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots:

"

I really don't know why that happened or what the case is. I haven't talked to the coaches about it yet. I will definitely ask if it continues for some reason. I am kind of new here. I have been here four weeks. I know I could've contributed, but I don't [know] what [their] reason was for not getting any snaps. ... It is kind of out of my control.

"

One reason is that William Gay has been camped out as the team's slot cornerback so far this year, and his performance hasn't warranted him relinquishing it any time soon. Though Gay has given up receptions on 70.4 percent of the passes thrown his way this year, he has not allowed a single touchdown.

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

But with a knee injury sidelining cornerback Cortez Allen for the last three games, it would appear there is room for Boykin to appear on the field for Pittsburgh's defense. But instead, that job has fallen to two other cornerbacks—Antwon Blake and Ross Cockrell. Cockrell has been lining up as an outside corner when the Steelers are in the nickel defense, while Blake is second only to Gay in cornerback snaps played so far this season, with 338.

Simply put: There is no room for Boykin right now. 

Pittsburgh's cornerbacks may not be playing very well when it comes to opponent reception percentage, but they are doing well when it comes to touchdowns allowed. Only Cockrell (who has played 187 snaps) has given up one besides Boykin, but Boykin's came while being given very little playing time.

The sample size may be small, but the Steelers could be looking at that one touchdown allowed in 13 snaps played as a sign that Boykin is, right now, too much of a liability to play ahead of Gay, Cockrell, Blake or even Allen, when Allen is healthy.

Regardless of the draft compensation the Steelers gave up for Boykin, that does not—and should not—determine whether he gets playing time and how much. The bottom line in the NFL is winning, and teams want more than anything to field the players who give them the best chance of doing so.

If that means benching a player who was traded for, or making a Round 1 draft pick a game-day inactive or anything else, any team, including the Steelers, should not hesitate to make those calls. Boykin is not playing cornerback well enough right now to warrant taking Gay, Blake or Cockrell off the field right now.

For now, Boykin will have to remain on special teams. If he begins practicing better than the other cornerbacks ahead of him on the depth chart—or if another should fall injured—then perhaps we will see him with Pittsburgh's defense down the line.

But no matter how much potential the Steelers saw in Boykin this summer, he is not managing to currently outplay any of the other more established Steelers cornerbacks. Until he does, his defensive snap count will remain low.