The Cleveland Browns knew they needed to overhaul a stagnant passing attack, and they made a massive splash on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
By aggressively targeting the wide receiver position, specifically bringing in Washington standout Denzel Boston, the Browns have built a formidable, dynamic arsenal for second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
How Denzel Boston Benefits the Browns’ Quarterbacks
For an offense that struggled mightily last year, the addition of the nearly 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston provides a quintessential X-receiver profile.
Boston bided his time behind NFL-bound talent at Washington before exploding in his upperclassman years. He logged 63 catches for 834 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024, followed by 62 grabs for 881 yards and 11 scores in 2025.
According to PFSN, Boston earned a CFB WR Impact Metric score of 79.5 (C+) for his 2025 campaign, highlighting his steady target share and red-zone mismatch abilities.
Draft analysts are already heaping praise on the selection, noting the striking stylistic similarities between Boston and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
“I think the Michael Pittman Jr. comp is one that’s been thrown out a lot, and I think it tracks,” PFSN NFL analyst Ian Cummings explained on our live “Football Debate Club” draft show.
While Cummings views Boston as “more of a zone beater than a man beater,” he praised his exceptional movement skills.
“He’s definitely really fluid for his size. To separate independently at the NFL level, you need hip fluidity, you need ankle mobility. And I think those are two things that are very strong in Denzel Boston’s film.”
Beyond his smooth, long-striding speed, Boston possesses elite ball skills. PFSN’s draft profile notes his “expansive catch radius,” and TruMedia charted him with a minuscule 1.2% drop rate in 2025.
Cummings marveled at Boston’s spatial intelligence, citing a specific play against Michigan where the receiver brilliantly adjusted his tracking angle mid-route to bait a single-high safety and clear space for himself.
By pairing Boston’s vertical threat and reliable hands with the versatile KC Concepcion, whom the Browns took in Round 1, Cleveland has established a perfectly balanced foundation.
PFSN NFL analyst Jacob Infante sees this reloaded pass-catching group, which also features tight end Harold Fannin Jr., as a dream scenario for whoever is taking snaps, whether it’s veteran Deshaun Watson or Sanders.
“We all saw that Browns offense last year, and it wasn’t very good,” Infante said. “I think in the short term, Shedeur Sanders [or] Deshaun Watson is going to be happy. But in the long term, whoever ends up as this long-term starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns… is going to be pretty happy with the situation they surround themselves with.”
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Cummings echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the excellent synergy between Cleveland’s new weapons. “You have a guy in Denzel Boston who can stress defenses vertically and get some [yards after catch] in the short range. And you have the guy in KC Concepcion, who’s kind of the everyman who can play outside, inside, and separate at all three levels.”
With a massive catch radius, intelligent route pacing, and an undeniable knack for winning difficult grabs, Boston is poised to be an impact starter. The Browns didn’t just draft a receiver; they drafted long-term peace of mind for their franchise quarterback.
