Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: CB Lance Boykin - Intriguing Traits-Based Corner?

Finally breaking through as a full-time starter at Coastal Carolina, Lance Boykin brings enticing size, length, and special teams experience to the Seattle Seahawks cornerback group. Will that be enough to hang tough in a crowded secondary?

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jun 14, 2023 9:40 PM EDT

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to June and offseason activities well underway league-wide, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than two months, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Lance Boykin, Cornerback

Height/Weight: 6-2, 198 pounds

2022 Stats*: 58 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups

*College stats at Coastal Carolina

Underrecruited as a two-star prospect coming out of High Point High School in North Carolina, Boykin wasted little time making an impact at Old Dominion, starting five games as a true freshman while producing 24 tackles, an interception, and four pass breakups. Two years later, the Monarchs didn't play due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he opted to transfer the following spring, landing with Coastal Carolina.

After primarily playing special teams in his first season with the Chanticleers, Boykin enjoyed a breakout senior season in 2022, setting career-highs in tackles, interceptions, and pass breakups while earning Second-Team All-Sun Belt honors. As a reward for his efforts, he received an invite to the East/West Shrine Bowl as well as the NFL combine, but he still went undrafted and signed with the Seahawks as a free agent.

Best-Case Scenario: Checking off the size, length, and physicality boxes the Seahawks like at outside cornerback and performing well on special teams, Boykin surprises in limited opportunities during training camp and the preseason, securing a practice squad spot as a developmental insurance option for the future.

Worst-Case Scenario: Struggling to stay with receivers downfield and surrendering several big plays in camp and exhibition games, Boykin isn't able to stand out at a crowded position group and receives a pink slip at the end of August without returning on the practice squad.

What to Expect in 2023: A bit of a late bloomer, Boykin carved out a role as a core special teams player at Old Dominion as well as Coastal Carolina before emerging as a viable NFL prospect last season. His previous experience on kick and punt coverage teams should help his cause trying to climb the depth chart battling against several other quality incoming undrafted cornerbacks in Seattle, including Arquon Bush.

But while Boykin's size and length are desirable assets, athletic limitations may put a serious cap on his ceiling as an NFL prospect beyond being a reserve with special teams duties. Competing in one of the Seahawks' deepest position groups, earning a roster spot will be extremely difficult to accomplish and his best bet to stick around will come on the practice squad with an improved chance at a spot a year down the road.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles