Steelers trade for cornerback Brandon Boykin

With that in mind, the team added to their current group of corners on Saturday when they acquired Brandon Boykin from the Philadelphia Eagles.

In return, the Eagles received a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Boykin immediately bolsters a Pittsburgh Steelers unit led by William Gay and Cortez Allen.

A 2012 fourth-round pick of the Eagles, the 25-year-old Boykin is heading into the final season of his rookie contract.

“To the city of Philadelphia it’s been real”, Boykin said on Twitter.

In his first three years in the league, Boykin has recorded seven interceptions to go along with 120 total tackles.

A divorce between the Eagles and Boykin was a longtime coming, as the cornerback has been very vocal in his displeasure with not being given a chance to start on the outside. Trading away Boykin is a sign that Chip Kelly and the Eagles believe in rookies Eric Rowe and JaCorey Shepherd to step in and play this season.

The Eagles were adamant on keeping Boykin in the slot, while he aspired to move outside.