DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk NFL Draft 2026 Pick #39 Washington WR Denzel Boston

Great pick!! We already transformed our WR room!!!!!!

Thrilled that Boston was there and the Browns didn't hesitate to double up on WR.

Thanks for the memories Cedric and Jabari!

Yes ! Finally listened ...

Wow Great Pick I am a happy fan right now we have some WEAPONS!!!!

Excited about the pick

Judkins and Sampson just became better RB's!!!!!

From Dane Brugler's write-up...

BACKGROUND

Denzel Boston, the youngest of four boys, was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, by his parents (Chris and Rechelle). His father, who is a
football coach, and his mother both attended Boise State. The family relocated to Washington and the Puyallup area (about 40 miles
south of Seattle). One of his brothers (Andrew) set single-season records at Emerald Ridge High for catches (69) and receiving
touchdowns (13), then went on to play at FCS Eastern Washington (2017-21), where he was an All-Big Sky wide receiver. He went
undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but spent time at the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp before signing with the CFL’s Hamilton
Tiger-Cats.

In sixth grade, Denzel Boston played for Team Seattle and advanced to Florida for the FBU National Championship. From third grade
on, throughout Pop Warner football and into high school, he played with the same core group of kids. Boston also played baseball and
basketball before high school.

Like his older brother, Boston attended Emerald Ridge High School, where he was a four-year letterman in football. He moved up to
varsity as a freshman in 2018 and caught his first touchdown pass for a three-win team. As a sophomore in 2019, Boston became more
of a factor in the offense, catching 30 passes for 361 yards and seven touchdowns. His junior season was postponed until spring of 2021
and shortened to six games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Boston finished with 34 catches for 553 yards and seven
touchdowns to earn second-team all-area honors. He had his most productive season as a senior in 2021, with 36 receptions for 548
yards and eight touchdowns. Boston joined the track team at Emerald Ridge and set personal bests of 23.08 seconds in the 200 meters
and 42 feet 10 inches in the triple jump.

A three-star recruit, Boston was the 130th-ranked wide receiver in the 2022 class and the No. 15 recruit in Washington. He received an
offer after his sophomore season from Arizona State, in May 2020. As a junior, Boston added offers from Arizona, Nevada and Eastern
Washington, his brother’s alma mater. The summer before his senior year, in July 2021, he received offers from Washington State and
Washington. Boston announced his commitment a week after receiving that offer from the Huskies. He stayed committed after Jimmy
Lake was fired as head coach during the 2021 season and was the fifth-ranked recruit in Kalen DeBoer’s first class at Washington.
Boston became the top-ranked receiver in the Huskies’ class after Germie Bernard flipped to Michigan State at the last moment.
He elected to skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS
● Tall frame with adequate muscle definition and overall length
● Uses big body to shield catch points from squatters or outmuscle defenders downfield
● Swats jams to power through press attempts
● Skilled tracker on jump balls and plays with “my ball” mentality (see 2025 Rutgers touchdown catch)
● Outstanding hand strength to cleanly secure away from his body
● Coordinated footwork on double moves and stutter-and-go routes
● Not a burner but shows good pacing on straight-line routes
● Flashes physicality as a ball carrier and won’t concede easily after the catch
● Quality blocker with ingredients to become above average
● Averaged 8.5 yards per attempt as a punt returner, including a 78-yard touchdown in 2025
● Wore the captain’s “C” on his jersey; scouts say he gradually grew into a leadership role

WEAKNESSES
● Mediocre speed and lacks suddenness out of breaks
● Will have trouble creating separation versus man coverage
● Too methodical at times getting into press release
● Strong hands, but tracking over his shoulder was up and down on tape
● Average stop-start ability to catch pursuit off balance after the catch
● Rolled his ankle and missed Purdue game (Nov. 2025); missed spring practices in 2025 after undergoing surgery for a double
sports hernia (March 2025)

SUMMARY
A two-year starter at Washington, Boston was primarily a perimeter receiver (81.3 percent of snaps aligned wide) in head coach Jedd
Fisch’s offense. He joined a Huskies wide receiver room that included Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Germie Bernard and Ja’Lynn
Polk, and he waited his turn before leading the team in receiving in both 2024 and ‘25. He was productive at every level of the field,
especially near the goal line (14 of his 20 touchdown catches came in the red zone).

A good-sized athlete, Boston plays big and balanced with vacuum hands (3.1 percent drop rate). He treats the catch point like he’s a
power forward in the paint, boxing out and using his rangy frame and focus to secure the football. Ball placement wasn’t a strength of
Washington quarterbacks, which created opportunities for Boston to show off his catch radius. He doesn’t have the juice to simply run
by NFL man coverage, and he won’t be known for his after-the-catch skills, but he is a proven chain-mover (79 percent of his 2025
catches resulted in either a first down or touchdown). Overall, Boston builds his speed with smooth, long strides and
naturally adjusts with the hand strength of a ball winner, which should quickly earn him the trust of an NFL
quarterback. With his ability to win inside or outside, his game has shades of 2025 Houston Texans draft pick Jayden
Higgins.

Most of us fans would have been happy with Boston at 24. Drafting him at 39 is even better.

That is what is called a Steal !!!

I think the pick was in under 2 minutes gone on the clock. It had to be the fastest turn in to date of this year's draft. I was hoping they were debating and split room on WR at #24.

These two couldn't possibly compliment any other pair better in this draft. Two completely different skill sets.

Yep. I had a sinking feeling the Raiders were taking him. When they I didn't, I immediately thought Berry wouldn't have the balls to double-up.

So excited for a clean slate in the WR room. And as I said last year, don't sleep on Isaiah Bond!

Jeudy
Concepcion
Boston
Bond

Not a bad top 4 to work with....hopefully.

+1

Cedrick Tillman still could have a place on the team.

I agree this may push him to be a better WR

absolutely!

The room is suddenly crowded.

Agree 100.

I jumped up and yelled (scared the crap out of my poor sleeping dog lol).

My wife asked why I was so excited (she's accustomed to a lot of eye rolls and sighs on draft nights), I said "we drafted one WR that can outrun the Flash and another can wrestle the ball away from the Incredible Hulk!" 🤣

Yep, I’m a Bond fan too! I’m excited to his improvement in knowing the routes and his route running

All of a sudden, we have weapons all over the field. If Shedeur can play even above average, we may really have something!!!!! We can now stretch the field every which way!!!!

HAHA!! Me too. Joe Haden is my daughter's favorite Brown of all time, so I took video of him making the pick and my scream was captured, lol.

Jeudy will have to work to keep his starting job. No more taking plays off. I'm glad to see some playmakers added.

lol. Awesome bro.

I had to hit rewind and watch Haden twice...

"What's up Pittsburgh"... and then "my Cleveland Browns."

Boston plays big and balanced with vacuum hands (3.1 percent drop rate).

He treats the catch point like he’s a power forward in the paint, boxing out and using his rangy frame and focus to secure the football.

That's what I like to read!!!!!

My Granddaughter loves Joe she was happy

My Granddaughter loves Joe she was happy