During Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, ESPN’s veteran host, Mike Greenberg, didn’t just err. It was a definitive, confidently stated alternative fact that left fans wondering if he had done any homework at all. All this happened when the Cleveland Browns selected Denzel Boston as the 39th overall pick, a standout wide receiver from the University of Washington.
NFL World Becomes Unforgiving for Mike Greenberg Over Denzel Boston Blunder on Draft Day
“You remember his dad, David Boston, first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999,” Greenberg said.
The problem? Denzel Boston is not David Boston’s son. In fact, the two aren’t related at all. While David Boston was indeed a legendary Buckeye and an NFL Pro Bowler, Denzel Boston has spent his draft cycle clarifying that he is part of a completely different family tree.
The silence on the set was brief, but the reaction on the internet was instantaneous.
Mike Rifkin of The Sports Insanity Network wrote, “You’d think when you do a national broadcast you’d do some research. Brutal.”
You’d think when you do a national broadcast you’d do some research. Brutal https://t.co/OeXuWguXF9
— mike rifkin (@punmasterrifkin) April 25, 2026
Bill McCandless announced, “You have to be very very VERY bad at your job toa make this mistake on a draft show.”
You have to be very very VERY bad at your job toa make this mistake on a draft show. https://t.co/pTdVNQrvQK
— Bill McCandless (@bmccandless) April 25, 2026
Michael Hurley commented, “You, of course, remember his dad, the city of Boston, the birthplace of America, home of Paul Revere and the fictional Johnny Tremain, the maimed silversmith apprentice.”
Clevta’s X handle declared, “LMAO. I mean, the guy hugging Denzel is definitely not David. This is hilarious.”
Awful Announcing’s X handle reported, “Denzel Boston is not David Boston’s son, and they’re not even related.”
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For Denzel Boston, the night was still a dream come true as he headed to Cleveland to join a revamped Browns offense. But for Mike Greenberg, the 2026 Draft will likely be remembered as the year he tried to draft a family tree that didn’t exist.
In addition, the move by the Browns also attracted an A+ grade from the PFSN’s Live Draft Tracker. While PFSN’s scouting report on him noted, “Boston’s ability to high-point passes and make difficult grabs makes him a go-to weapon when space tightens, and he magnifies his vice-grip hand strength with intelligent timing control and catch-point positioning.”
Pairing his physical, contested-catch ability with the explosive slot skills of fellow rookie KC Concepcion gives Todd Monken a versatile, high-ceiling arsenal to revitalize the Browns’ offense.
