Brandon Boykin isn't even going to be starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Brandon Boykin isn't going to be starting at outside cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. He's not even going to be the starter on the inside. According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Boykin is the fourth cornerback on Pittsburgh's depth chart:

"Yes, I believe when they go to three, Cortez Allen will be on the field. [...] I expected [Boykin] to play until I learned he probably is not among the top 3. Silly us, we thought the Steelers traded a fifth-round pick to the Eagles because they too thought he would play."

On one hand, this is bad news for the Eagles. Philadelphia only receives Pittsburgh's fourth round draft pick if Boykin plays at least 60% of the Steelers' defensive snaps. If Boykin isn't in the top three, there's a very good chance he won't play enough to fulfill that condition. Therefore, the Eagles are likely to only receive a fifth round pick for Boykin.

On the other hand, maybe this is a sign Boykin isn't good enough to get on the field on a more regular basis and the Eagles made a good deal by trading him away. Especially considering Boykin was on the last year of his contract.

It's not like Boykin is buried behind great players, either. He's stuck behind the likes of William Gay, Antwon Blake, and Cortez Allen.

One could argue the Eagles would still be better off with Boykin right now. The team currently doesn't have an answer at the nickel position after trading him away and seeing JaCorey Shepherd, his potential replacement, go down with a season-ending injury.

But what's done is done. Boykin is gone and he's not even starting. The Eagles are likely to receive a fifth round pick in from the Steelers in the 2016 NFL Draft.