The Buffalo Bills have more than a few things they need to improve if they hope to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in the Josh Allen era. General manager Brandon Beane is facing pressure to provide Allen with more weapons, particularly at the receiver position.
Though some projections have them making a big trade, the more likely solution will come in the first round of the NFL Draft. The defense needs a lot of work, and the Bills could opt to address that side of the ball, but there is one option that suits Allen’s prolific arm the most: Washington receiver Denzel Boston.
Washington WR Denzel Boston 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 210 lbs
Expected 40-Yard Dash Time: 4.50-4.55
Recruiting: 3-star recruit, No. 146 WR nationally in the class of 2022, No. 17 player in Washington
College Production: 132 career receptions, 1,781 receiving yards, 20 touchdown receptions
Positives
- Boston has tremendous size at 6’4” and long arms that give him a huge catch radius. Can use his size to wall off corners and reach balls only meant for him.
- Plays faster than his 40-yard dash time, getting up to speed and going through his routes without wasting steps.
- Excellent on deep balls, adjusting to back-shoulder throws and tracking balls very well.
- An outstanding red zone target who can box out on slants, find open spots in the zone, and win fades regularly.
- Great hands that can win catches through contact even on the most tightly contested balls.
- Plays with a little something extra, fighting through arm tackles and running angry in all situations.
- More than willing to block in the run game, cracking down on edges and sealing corners willingly.
Boston is the kind of weapon that Allen has been clamoring for. He can stretch the field, go up and win contested catches, and will still block with enough aplomb to make him an asset in Buffalo’s run-heavy offense.
Negatives
- Can struggle getting off the line, something that more experienced NFL press corners will exploit.
- Despite good game speed, isn’t the kind of receiver that will blow by guys.
- Can establish separation initially, but tends to lose some of that cushion because of a lack of explosive cuts.
- Not a great YAC receiver, limiting his abilities in the short passing game.
Boston may not be able to truly take the top off the defense in the way that an elite burner would. If he can work on his release, he could become more dangerous in separation, but he needs to become more explosive out of his breaks.
Denzel Boston NFL Player Comparison: Michael Pittman Jr.
Like Boston, Pittman Jr. was a big receiver who could make contested catches at every level but struggled against big press corners and lacked that suddenness needed to pick up yards after the catch.
Pittman has consistently been a very good producer in six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He has had more than 1,000 receiving yards twice and even had a career-best 109 catches in 2023. That was with quarterbacks like Phillip Rivers (the first time), Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Gardner Minshew, and Anthony Richardson throwing him the ball. Just imagine what that kind of receiver could do with Allen as his quarterback.
Denzel Boston’s Fit with the Buffalo Bills
The biggest concern about Boston – run after the catch ability – is something the Bills have in spades already. What they need is a big receiver with excellent hands who can establish separation and win contested balls. Boston may not have the explosive ability that a Stefon Diggs had, but he should be able to push the defense vertically and give Allen a viable deep threat to work with.
Denzel Boston NFL Draft Grade: Late Round 1
Boston has virtually everything you look for in a No.1 receiver. If he were a hair faster, he would be gone in the first 10 picks. If he is available at No. 26, the Bills should snap him up happily. Boston has the size, skill, and separation that the Bills' receiving corps has been missing for years now, and he should become an instant favorite of Allen.