LATROBE, Pa. -- Cornerback Brandon Boykin said he would like to be in the Pittsburgh Steelers' long-term plans after the team acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick.

Boykin is a free agent after this season and doesn't know what will happen. But he is a logical man.

"I don't know if a team would actually trade for you if they didn't have plans of at least trying to attempt to keep you around based on your play," Boykin told ESPN after Thursday's practice. "So if all goes well, hopefully I will be a Steeler for a long time. I definitely knew in Philly the chances were I wouldn't get the chance I wanted."

Boykin arrived at Saint Vincent College, the Steelers' training camp home, on Saturday night and just finished his fourth practice. He's picking up on the defense quickly, now it's about "getting comfortable with the plays and actually getting the reps," which starts in official capacity Sunday in the Hall of Fame preseason game against Minnesota.

Boykin urged coaches to throw him into every situation early and often. The Steelers' defense plays more zone coverage than Philadelphia but many of the same concepts are similar, Boykin said.

"It just kind of depends on the preason and the next few practices, but I see myself playing inside, outside, being able to do everything here," said Boykin about his role. "Everybody can play everything here, so when you rotate, it will be easier for everyone to do that and know everything."

Boykin, who didn't have a strong relationship with Eagles coach Chip Kelly, said he's hitting the right notes with Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, whom Boykin says has been "really helpful on and off the field," frequently asking him how he's doing with the transitoin. "I've been able to communicate with him a lot and that's helped me," Boykin said.

Boykin figures he'll know soon enough, probably some time during the season, whether he has a good chance of staying in Pittsburgh.

"If I do what I'm supposed to do, I think everything else will take care of itself," Boykin said.