The 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh! This draft season, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital, and their fit with the Steelers.
Denzel Boston is one of the more polarizing wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Is the first-round hype legitimate? Or is Boston the next big receiver to bust once transitioning to the pros?
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The basics on Denzel Boston
Offensive stats via Sports Reference
Denzel Boston scouting report
Denzel Boston has some concerns, but you can’t watch his games without coming away impressed with his contested catch ability. Boston has the build of an imposing boundary receiver at 6’4, 212 pounds, and he absolutely plays the part with strong, massive hands, high-end ball tracking, and a knack for hauling in highlight-worthy grabs.
Coming off two seasons with near-identical production at Washington, Boston entered the draft process as one of the top names at wide receiver. The big question, however, was how he would test when it came to speed.
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Boston instead opted to skip the 40-yard dash at both his pro day and the NFL Combine (he did post an impressive 37.5-inch vertical in the former), raising more questions than answers. Judging strictly from the games I watched, Boston’s speed is a real concern. Against college defensive backs — especially those on better defenses — he created little separation. The theories that Boston’s 40-time would be somewhere in the 4.6-second range seem likely.
Separation is incredibly important at the NFL level (as well as something the draft community seems to value more than most other traits at wide receiver), but receivers can succeed in other areas. There, Boston shows some promise.
For one, despite his size, Boston is a surprisingly smooth athlete. He accelerates well off the line of scrimmage, wastes little movement in his routes, and has a bit more quickness than expected. As a route runner, he’s efficient and positions himself well against defensive backs, even showing some impressive sink and stop on curl and comeback routes. His footwork is a plus even if the game speed isn’t anywhere close to some of the other top receivers in the class.
In fact, Boston was Washington’s primary punt returner in 2025 — somewhat surprising given his profile — where he averaged 13 yards per return and even took one back to the house. I highly doubt he’ll have the same role in the NFL, but it was still good experience that showed he can make some plays in the open field.
But although Boston’s showed some route-running prowess, it was still rare to see him shaking cornerbacks in coverage. Even on his sharpest cuts, defenders would generally be able to stay right with him.
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That said, Boston shows a good feel for putting himself in position to haul in catches against tight coverage, and his strong hands allow him to hold onto the football through contact. He stays on course through press and showed off some inside-outside versatility in Washington’s offense. The Bleacher Report scouting report linked below compared him to Michael Pittman Jr., a take I also arrived at independently.
On shorter routes, Boston wins similarly to the new Steelers receiver, not burning coverage on crossers, but hanging onto well-placed footballs and finding ways to move the chains. There’s no doubt that Boston is a tough receiver, not just in the passing game but also as an above-average blocker.
Boston’s mix of incredible strengths but valid concerns make him a difficult evaluation. I’d say I’m confidently out when it comes to the first-round hype, but somewhere in the early- to mid-second round makes a lot of sense. NFL teams will have to decide how much of his above-the-rim talent will translate against better defensive backs.
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Strengths
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Big, tall; NFL X receiver frame
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Some of the strongest hands in the class; tracks ball well and catches away from body
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Starts routes with good acceleration
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Good positioning on routes
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Regularly wins contested catches
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High-effort player who fights through physical coverage
Weaknesses
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Struggled to create separation
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Will likely have limited role to start NFL career
What others are saying about Denzel Boston
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Two-year starter with elite ball skills that should supersede athletic/speed limitations. A Puka Nacua comparison might feel strong, but like Nacua, Boston enters the draft with speed/separation concerns and outstanding competitive toughness. Boston gets off the line with good burst and maintains his top speed throughout the route. He could have issues beating press, but releases can also be schemed. He’s very skilled when it comes to winning jump balls and contested throws. Boston also knows how to win in the red zone. Acclimating to NFL competition could take a year, but Boston has the makeup to become a productive possession target with above-average red-zone value.
Damian Parson, Bleacher Report
Boston stresses defense with his blend of size, physicality, and alignment versatility. He is a matchup nightmare for smaller nickel cornerbacks when aligned in the slot. He uses his strong frame to box defenders out at the catch point on in-breaking routes and is a quarterback-friendly target. … An expanded release package will be an important part of Boston’s development. More variety and craftiness at the line of scrimmage will free him from physical coverage more quickly, allowing him to enter his route phase. … PRO COMPARISON: Michael Pittman.
Trevor Sikkema, PFF
Boston is a smooth-moving “X” receiver with the size and skill set to develop into a starting outside receiver at the next level. He is less comfortable and productive against zone coverage, but in single-coverage situations, he is often the player to bet on thanks to his elite hand strength.
Denzel Boston’s fit with the Steelers
The Steelers had a pre-draft visit with Boston, opening up the possibility of the team entering 2026 with a wide receiver room chock-full of big, physical targets. That would be fun, and without the heavy attention he received from defenses in college (and better quarterback play), Boston could see more early success than expected.
Still, as the Steelers already have D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., I’d rather see the team invest in a quick separator at wide receiver to complement the skill sets already in the room.
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That said, I wouldn’t say Boston’s athletic limitations are so dire that he lacks any WR1 upside, but the fact that he’s a solid route runner already makes me worry he’s largely topped out most of his athletic potential. I’m confident there will be better talents at fits available when Pittsburgh picks at No. 21, but Boston won’t last on the board until No. 53.
TL;DR: Boston is a big contested-catch specialist whose hands might be the best in his class. For his size, he’s a good enough athlete who is surprisingly smooth, but his struggles to separate at the college level raise legitimate questions about his NFL future.
What are your thoughts on Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
