After months of anticipation, the 2026 NFL Draft is finally upon us. It’s a big night for all involved, but it promises to be a particularly high-stakes affair for former Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Boston, who stands 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, is seen by most analysts as a fringe first-round prospect in this year’s draft, but with so many teams in need of receiver help, there’s been lots of speculation as to where he’ll end up. As we count down the hours till the draft officially kicks off, let’s look at five draft destinations which could set Boston up for a successful NFL career.
Honorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns
These two teams are both in need of reinforcements out wide, and although Boston could begin a successful career with each, they’ve both got problems which keep them outside the top five.
The Dolphins are in the midst of a rebuild but have yet to add much proven production to a receivers room which lost Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle this offseason. New quarterback Malik Willis’ affinity for the deep ball could work well with Boston, but the former Packers quarterback is relatively untested, as are first-year NFL head coach Jeff Hafley and first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
The Browns’ offense features a solid supporting cast in tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, meaning Boston could get WR1 reps without needing to carry the offense alone. However, Cleveland’s got a chaotic situation at quarterback, a terrible track record for team success, and a rookie head coach in Todd Monken.
5. New York Jets, No. 33 overall
The Jets, who had by far the league’s worst passing offense in 2025, need to add a second option alongside wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Wilson led the team with 395 receiving yards despite missing nine games due to a knee injury which sidelined him from November onwards.
Behind Wilson, the Jets aren’t returning a single receiver with proven production to his name. John Metchie III, who is slated to be New York’s WR2 unless the Jets draft a receiver, totalled just 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
Boston wouldn’t join New York with expectations of immediate success, but the Jets remain an appealing destination due to the number of first-round picks (two this year and three next year) they possess.
The Jets aren’t likely to use either of their 2026 first-round picks on Boston, as he’d be considered a reach at picks Nos. 2 and 16. Taking Boston with the first pick of Round 2 would mean less rookie money for the former Husky, but it would mean he joins a stronger overall team, and one which is likely to sign even more talent in 2027.
The Jets will presumably use the first of their three 2027 picks on a highly-touted quarterback, and the rest to build around him. If the Jets can pair Boston with Wilson out wide, they’ll have their receiving needs covered and will be free to funnel resources into the rest of the team.
Until then, Geno Smith may not be the solution to the Jets’ quarterback struggles, but he was able to get solid numbers out of DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba during his time in Seattle. And although second-year head coach Aaron Glenn may already be on the hot seat, he’s unlikely to be crucial to Boston’s early development.
4. San Francisco 49ers, No. 27 overall
Boston wouldn’t enter San Francisco as the No. 1 option in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, but that might be for the best. Instead, Boston could take rotational reps behind free agent additions Christian Kirk and Mike Evans while he hones his skillset.
Evans, who stands 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds, would be a perfect mentor for Boston. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer used that massive frame to reach 1,000+ receiving yards in each of his first 11 NFL seasons, and he’d surely have plenty of advice for the similarly imposing Boston.
Evans would almost certainly be San Francisco’s primary boundary–or ‘X’–receiver for 2026, but he’ll be 33 years old when the season starts, and he’s coming off a season in which he missed nine games due to a concussion, a collarbone injury, and the latest in a years-long string of hamstring issues. Evans landed with the 49ers via a three-year, $42 million contract, but it’s got an exit option after the first year, which makes him even less likely to take future reps from Boston.
Meanwhile, Kirk will turn 30 in November, and is coming off of three straight seasons in which he’s missed four or more games. He hasn’t totaled 800+ receiving yards or four receiving scores in that timeframe either, so it’s possible that Boston could immediately slot in ahead of him in the depth chart. Either way, Kirk’s only in San Francisco on a one-year deal, so he’s unlikely to take much long-term attention away from Boston.
With two short-term solutions out wide, tight end George Kittle turning 33 in October, and running back Christian McCaffrey reaching the dreaded 30-mark in June, the 49ers will soon be in need of a new primary offensive option. Boston would already have a potential long-term complement in rising third-year receiver Ricky Pearsall, and Shanahan could surely make special use of the former Husky’s unique physical traits.
No wideout has tallied 10 single-season receiving touchdowns for San Francisco since 2002, but Boston could generate considerable starpower if he were to break that curse.
3. Buffalo Bills, No. 26 overall
The Bills have been prime contenders to land Boston’s services ever since Bills owner Terry Pegula publicly denounced wide receiver Keon Coleman in January. Coleman, who has failed to live up to his second-round draft status through two seasons in Buffalo, reportedly fell to sixth on Buffalo’s depth chart during a disappointing sophomore season in which he was listed as a healthy scratch for four games.
Current Bills head coach and former offensive coordinator Joe Brady responded to Pegula’s comments with support for Coleman, including an affirmation that he would remain with the team. However, Coleman’s status as the team’s primary outside receiver is certainly in jeopardy, and the Bills can’t afford inconsistent receiver play if they want to capitalize on former MVP quarterback Josh Allen’s physical prime.
Coleman’s struggles mean the Bills’ current No. 1 option is Khalil Shakir, who led the team with 72 receptions for 719 yards in 2025. However, Shakir’s more of a slot option than a downfield threat, which doesn’t make him an ideal WR1 for a strong-armed quarterback like Allen.
Boston, however, could be a perfect pairing for Allen. Boston’s got some of the same separation concerns that Coleman had coming out of college–and a very similar frame–but he’s a better route-runner than Coleman, has better ball skills, and was more productive in college. Simply put, Boston’s simply got a higher floor than Coleman, and that could be enough to motivate Buffalo towards an upgrade. If Boston does land with the Bills, he’d likely become Allen’s favorite target, and that’s a good place to be.
2. Kansas City Chiefs, No. 29 overall
It’s hard to imagine a better draft day outcome than becoming WR1 for the league’s best quarterback. The Chiefs are reshuffling their roster around three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, but a need remains at pass-catcher.
Kansas City’s leading receiver from last year, Hollywood Brown, left for Philadelphia in free agency, and 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce will turn 38 this season. Elsewhere, Rashee Rice has dealt with both injuries and off-field issues, and Xavier Worthy recently underwent surgery for a torn labrum which he played on for the entire 2025 season.
In addition to depth, drafting Boston would give the Chiefs some desperately-needed size. Tyquan Thornton, who stands 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, was the only Chiefs wideout above 6-foot-1 to record a catch last season. He tallied 19 catches for 438 yards and one touchdown in 2025, but he’s yet to prove himself as the kind of WR1-caliber receiver which the Chiefs are in need of.
If the Chiefs land Boston with the No. 29 overall pick, they’ll ensure that Mahomes has a big body to throw to downfield even after Kelce hangs up his cleats. With Rice cutting into the middle from the slot and Worthy stretching defenses vertically with his record-breaking speed, Boston could see plenty of one-on-one matchups on the outside.
Boston’s 6-foot-4 frame and Mahomes’ unmatched playmaking ability could create a nightmarish connection for cornerbacks to disrupt. With offensively-minded head coach Andy Reid leading them, Mahomes and Boston could absolutely bring Kansas City back into championship contention.
1. Las Vegas Raiders, No. 36 overall
Is it bold to name the Raiders as any player’s No. 1 destination? Yes. But would Boston and presumed No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza have insane potential under new head coach Klint Kubiak? Also yes.
Barring an unforeseen development, Las Vegas will begin Thursday’s draft by selecting last year’s Heisman-winning quarterback. Once that happens, it’ll become the Raiders’ top priority to surround him with as much talent as possible.
Since Las Vegas already has a young running back, a young tight end, and an experienced left tackle, it’s clear that the best way to help Mendoza is to immediately get him a receiver. And for a quarterback like Mendoza, who led Indiana to its first national title via a hailstorm of perfect back-shoulder throws, Boston would be an ideal partner.
The South Hill, Wash. native stands an inch taller than Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt, who led the Hoosiers with 15 receiving touchdowns, and he’s a better athlete, too. If Boston can sync up with Mendoza, he’s got the size and strong hands to be even better in contested-catch scenarios than Sarratt was at Indiana. He’d also be a nice complement to Tre Tucker, who led Las Vegas’ 2025 squad with 696 receiving yards but stands just 5-foot-8.
Additionally, I like Boston’s fit with Las Vegas’ coaches. If drafted to the Raiders together, Mendoza and Boston would be led by head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, who were formerly the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, respectively.
The two recently oversaw wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s excellent 2025 campaign, where he paced the league in receiving yards (1,980) on his way to earning Offensive Player of the Year honors, and the two could potentially design a similar offensive system around Boston. They likely got plenty of information on the former Husky during their time in Seattle, which could give them a leg up in getting him settled in at the professional level.
Where will Boston be drafted? We may find out tonight, when the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 p.m. PST. Keep reading The Husky Haul for more NFL Draft news and analysis.
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