Early landing spots for Washington's Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft

Denzel Boston is headed to the 2026 NFL Draft after tallying 62 catches, 881 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 2025. The former Washington Husky is currently considered a mid-to-late first-round prospect, and there’s a number of teams that could benefit from his skillset. Now that the first round’s draft order has been officially set, let’s take a look at nine teams who are the most likely to select Boston on April 23:

No. 14 - Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is in need of a big-bodied wide receiver to complement 5-foot-9 Zay Flowers, who was the only Raven to surpass 500 receiving yards in 2025. Boston, who stands 6-foot-4 and possesses elite jump-ball ability, would take safety attention away from Flowers and open up Baltimore’s passing attack.

Pick No. 14 is about as early as I see Boston going given his current draft stock. But the Ravens need to capitalize on Lamar Jackson’s prime years, and that can’t happen without an improved receiving corps.

No. 16 - New York Jets

The Jets hold two first-round picks this year, and will likely take the best player available with the second overall pick. If they pass on Ohio State’s Carnell Tate for a defensive option at No. 2, they could take Boston with pick No. 16, which they got from Indianapolis in the Sauce Gardner trade.

Garrett Wilson, who played in just eight games this season, led a lowly 2025 Jets receiving corps with 395 receiving yards. If the Jets want to land their quarterback of the future in the 2027 draft, they’d better get him some more weapons. Boston’s size, fluidity, and reliable hands would make him a fine addition to the Jets’ latest rebuild.

No. 19 - Carolina Panthers

The Panthers made the postseason in 2025 thanks in part to a strong connection between quarterback Bryce Young and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year at Thursday’s NFL Honors ceremony.

However, Young has few other options behind McMillan, and none who reached 400 receiving yards or four touchdowns in 2025. Drafting Boston could give the Panthers an overload of big-bodied wideouts, but there are worse problems to have.

No. 21 - Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are in need of an offensive rebuild, though owner Art Rooney II doesn’t want to call it that. Pittsburgh’s revival won’t be complete without a new quarterback, but there aren’t any worth taking at No. 21 this year. 

Instead, Pittsburgh could address another offensive need by adding Boston to its receiving corps. Only DK Metcalf had more than 500 receiving yards or five touchdowns in 2025. The presence of two big-bodied X receivers could get awkward here, too, but giving Pittsburgh’s 2026 passer some large targets is probably a good idea.

No. 24 - Cleveland Browns

The Browns seem to be rolling with Shedeur Sanders as their quarterback for 2026. Now, they’ll need to give him someone to throw to. 

Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (713 yards, six touchdowns) was the only Brown to reach 700 receiving yards or five touchdowns. Wideout Jerry Jeudy, who tallied 1,229 receiving yards in 2024, totalled just 602 in 2025. He’s got only six touchdowns across his two years in Cleveland.

At. No. 24, Boston would give the Browns the kind of consistent downfield threat which their offense currently lacks. Boston scored 20 touchdowns across two seasons as a Huskies starter and would immediately become Sanders’ top target out wide.

No. 26 - Buffalo Bills

The Bills have yet to reach the Super Bowl with superstar quarterback Josh Allen. The 2024 MVP is still playing at an elite level, but he turns 30 in May. If new head coach Joe Brady wants to keep Buffalo’s Super Bowl window open, he needs to build around Allen and quickly.

Drafting Boston at No. 26 would be a strong step in the right direction. Owner Terry Pegula publicly denounced current X receiver Keon Coleman last month, and leading 2025 receiver Khalil Shakir isn’t much of a WR1. 

Boston’s clean route-running makes him a more nuanced downfield threat than Coleman. Allen hasn’t had a true WR1 since Stefon Diggs in 2023, and there’s no excuse for Brady and company to let him go without one for another year.

No. 27 - San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco appears to have seen the last of Brandon Aiyuk, who cut all communication with the team after injuring his knee in 2024. The 49ers have taken measures to reduce the consequences of the four-year, $120 million contract they signed him to in 2024, but releasing him at any point this offseason will lose them tens of millions in dead cap.

The 49ers must also decide whether to re-sign receiver Jauan Jennings, who was effectively San Francisco’s WR2 behind running back Christian McCaffrey. Jennings has been productive as a 49er but has yet to reach 1,000 receiving yards or 10 touchdowns in a regular season. He’ll be 29 by the time the 2026 season kicks off, so it’s very possible that San Francisco lets him walk.

Even if Jennings hangs around, the 49ers should consider taking Boston. He’s a proven WR1, and he’d be just 26 years old when his four-year rookie deal expires in 2030. The 49ers haven’t had a wide receiver reach 10 regular season receiving touchdowns since Terrell Owens in 2002, but drafting Boston could change that.

No. 29 - Los Angeles Rams

Like the Jets, the Rams have two first-round picks (No. 13 and No. 29), so it’s possible that they use the first on a wide receiver like Tate or Jordyn Tyson. But L.A.’s biggest need right now is at cornerback, and Pick No. 13 gives the Rams a great shot of landing a top corner like LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy.

If the Rams go cornerback at No. 13, they’d still have a chance to land Boston at No. 29. The Rams need another receiver to complement Puka Nacua, who has destroyed defenses on in-breaking routes across three dominant years in Los Angeles. Boston’s role as an outside receiver would make him an excellent alternative to Nacua, and the two could absolutely emerge as the nation’s top receiving duo in years to come. 

Boston could also take over as Los Angeles’ primary punt returner, which is a position of need following Xavier Smith’s muffed NFC Championship Game punt. Boston, who returned a punt for 78 yards and a touchdown against UC Davis in Week 2, has the sure hands and athletic ability to avoid those mistakes:

No. 32 - Seattle Seahawks

The Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks are set to see four of their top seven receivers enter free agency. Return specialist Rashid Shaheed is a pending free agent, as are depth pieces Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, and Cody White.

Seattle may wait until later in the draft to add a wideout, but Boston would be an ideal choice if the Seahawks decide to strike early. He could take over Shaheed’s role as a deep-ball threat and return specialist for a fraction of the cost Seattle would have to pay the former Saint.

Keeping Boston in Seattle would also be a great story. Boston, who was born and raised just 40 miles from Lumen Field in South Hill, Wash., became a homegrown hero at Washington. Getting drafted by the Seahawks would give Boston an easy transition into the NFL and a shot at becoming Evergreen State royalty.