The Cleveland Browns might have pulled off one of the biggest steals in the 2026 NFL Draft, landing wide receiver Denzel Boston at 39th overall in the second round. Forget what you think you know about rookie expectations, because this former Washington Husky standout is built different, and experts were already pegging him as a first-round talent long before the draft even happened.
Boston’s Size and Hands Are a Problem for Defenses
Seriously, this dude is an absolute unit. We’re talking 6’-4”, 212 pounds, with the kind of hands that just vacuum up contested catches. Back at Washington, he was seeing double teams frequently because the Huskies lacked other receiving threats. That kind of college experience, battling constant extra attention, just hones your game. And the stats back it up: he played 25 games in his last two years, hauling in over 120 catches for 1,700 yards and a ridiculous 20 touchdowns. Pro Football Focus even ranked him a few spots ahead of another highly-touted receiver, KC Concepcion. Browns Backers’ Glenn Bam Caudill thinks Boston is set for a massive year, and honestly, who could argue with that kind of resume?
The Rookie Safety Who Might Sneak Under the Radar
While Boston is getting all the hype, one analyst from Dawgs by Nature, EZ Weav, is betting on safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to be the best rookie this year. Weav points out that expectations for rookies can be brutal, especially for offensive players like Spencer Fano, Concepcion, and Boston himself. Their success is tied directly to quarterback play, and let’s be real, the Browns’ QB room “is not exactly the strongest in the league.” McNeil-Warren, on the other hand, steps into a much less pressured situation. He doesn’t need a million things to go perfectly, has solid starters in his position group for guidance, and frankly, 95% of what a safety does never even gets seen by fans or the media. As long as he avoids being an “obvious liability” like rookie Jabrill Peppers, Weav believes he’s got the “most talent/easiest road combo” to success. It’s a smart, low-key pick.
This Cleveland team has a ton of new bodies rolling into training camp. With so many starters from last year retired, released, or simply not offered new deals, GM Andrew Berry’s 2026 rookie class has a big chance to make an early impact. Will it be the obvious talent of a Denzel Boston, or the quiet consistency of an Emmanuel McNeil-Warren? The real battles are just beginning, and every rep matters as these young guys try to prove they belong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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