The Cleveland Browns doubled down on their offensive weapon overhaul Friday night, selecting Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston with the 39th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move, confirmed by the team's official website, marks the second wide receiver taken by the Browns in the first two rounds, following Thursday's selection of NC State standout KC Concepcion at No. 26 overall.
Boston, who appeared in 43 career games over four seasons with the Huskies, brings a different skill set to Cleveland's suddenly crowded and versatile receiver room. While Concepcion is viewed as a dynamic, yards-after-catch-oriented playmaker who can line up in the slot or take jet sweeps, Boston projects as a more traditional outside receiver with length, ball skills, and a proven ability to win contested catches.
The selection signals that general manager Andrew Berry and the front office are fully committed to surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson with a young, cost-controlled arsenal after a 2025 season that saw the offense sputter at times due to inconsistency from the pass-catching group. With veterans Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore both entering the final year of their respective contracts in 2026, adding two high-upside rookies now provides both immediate depth and long-term insurance.
Scouting the Pick: What Denzel Boston Brings to Cleveland
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Boston fits the classic "X-receiver" mold that offensive coordinator Travis Switzer has historically valued in his systems. Boston was a steady producer at Washington, particularly over his final two seasons when he emerged as a primary target in the Huskies' passing attack. He finished his college career with 148 receptions for 1,872 yards and 18 touchdowns, with his best statistical season coming as a junior when he posted 58 catches for 764 yards and seven scores.
Boston's game is built around his catch radius, body control, and ability to make plays in tight windows. He runs crisp routes for his size and shows good awareness against zone coverage, finding soft spots and making himself available for quarterbacks. He isn't a burner--his 40-yard dash time at the combine was clocked in the 4.52-second range--but he plays faster on tape because of his strong release package and ability to stack defenders vertically.
What jumps out most on film is Boston's competitiveness at the catch point. Time and again, he outmuscled defensive backs for 50-50 balls and high-pointed throws in the red zone. For a Browns team that has occasionally struggled in contested catch situations outside of Cooper, Boston provides an immediate remedy.
"I'm a guy who's going to go get the ball," Boston told reporters after being selected. "It doesn't matter if it's a slant, a go ball, or a jump ball in the end zone. I pride myself on catching everything. And I can't wait to get to Cleveland and show what I can do."
The Bigger Picture: A Receiver Room Transformed
With the selections of Concepcion and Boston in back-to-back rounds, the Browns have aggressively reshaped a wide receiver group that was widely viewed as needing an infusion of young talent.
Coming into the draft, the depth chart behind Cooper consisted of Moore, a talented but inconsistent slot option; Cedric Tillman, who showed flashes as a rookie but has dealt with injuries; and a collection of role players and special teamers. There was no clear heir apparent to Cooper on the outside, and the offense lacked a second true perimeter threat to stretch defenses vertically.
That concern has been addressed. While Concepcion is expected to work primarily from the slot and as a versatile chess piece--think a more physical version of what Moore provides--Boston slides into the X-receiver role immediately, allowing Cooper to remain in his more natural Z position where he can work the intermediate areas and the sideline. The result is a more balanced, harder-to-defend receiving corps.
The Browns also remain active in the veteran market. According to league sources, Cleveland has explored contract extensions with Cooper, and the addition of two young receivers does not preclude the team from retaining their veteran leader. In fact, it could make a deal easier: Boston and Concepcion are on rookie contracts, which gives the Browns financial flexibility to keep Cooper long-term without breaking the bank.
"The goal has always been to build this thing the right way," Berry said in a post-draft press conference. "We want competition at every spot. We want young players who can grow with our quarterback. We feel like we accomplished that with these two picks."
How Boston Fits in Year One
Boston is expected to compete for significant playing time right away. As a second-round pick, the organization will want him on the field, and his skill set complements what the Browns already have. He can play on the outside in base personnel, giving Watson a big target on third downs and in the red zone. He also has the ability to slide inside in certain packages, though his primary value will come as a boundary threat.
The transition from Washington's pro-style passing attack to Switzer's system should be relatively smooth. The Huskies ran a scheme that incorporated NFL concepts--play-action, RPOs, vertical route combinations--and Boston demonstrated a strong understanding of route adjustments and coverage recognition. He is not a one-trick pony; he can run the full route tree and has shown growth as a run blocker, a requirement for any receiver who wants to earn the trust of the coaching staff.
If the Browns use him correctly--and the early returns suggest they will--Boston could push for 50-60 receptions as a rookie, particularly if defenses key on Cooper and the running game. The Browns have a top-tier offensive line and a strong ground attack led by Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford, which will create favorable one-on-one matchups for Boston on the outside. He has the tools to exploit those opportunities.
What This Means for the Rest of the Roster
The selection of Boston also has ripple effects for the rest of the roster.
Tillman, a third-round pick in 2023, now faces a more uncertain path to playing time. He has shown promise but has been hampered by injuries, and the Browns clearly felt the need to add competition. Moore, meanwhile, is entering the final year of his rookie deal and could be a trade candidate if the Browns believe Concepcion can immediately produce in the slot.
Cleveland also added a safety in the second round, trading up to No. 58 to select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a rangy, ball-hawking defender out of Michigan State. That pick further solidifies a secondary that was already considered a strength, but the story of the first two rounds remains the offensive transformation.
The Browns entered draft weekend needing to add explosive playmakers. By 10 p.m. Friday night, they had added two--and in Denzel Boston, they may have found the long-term answer at a position that has been a revolving door for much of the franchise's history.
He might not be a household name today. But if his college tape is any indication, the Browns just got a receiver who plays like one.
