Cleveland Browns rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion got bold 2026 season predictions.
ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano believes Cleveland Browns rookies Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion will be the team's first- and second-leading receivers in 2026.
Boston and Concepcion "look like they'll be important parts of the offense right away," per Graziano.
"Concepcion is an elusive route runner and run-after-catch guy who could frustrate defenses if Cleveland can get him the ball quickly," Graziano wrote. "He was so good throughout August that he won the Maurice Bassett Award, which the Cleveland media gives annually to the Browns' top rookie performer in training camp. Meanwhile, the 6-4 Boston profiles as a traditional 'X' receiver who can win on the boundaries with his size and physicality. Jerry Jeudy is still there, the Browns still like Isaiah Bond, and second-year tight end Harold Fannin Jr. can be used in a variety of roles. But the rookie WRs have been camp standouts, and I don't believe coach Todd Monken will hesitate to ask a lot of them right away."
Boston could make an immediate impact in the red zone, where his size, reliable hands and hard-nosed mentality could help the Browns take a long-awaited step forward in the AFC North.
For Washington in 2025, Boston put up 62 receptions for 881 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He finished his college career with 132 receptions for 1,781 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns.
Concepcion had 61 catches last college football season, totaling 919 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns. He is projected to be a legitimate vertical threat for the Browns this season.
"We're going to be a special offense," Concepcion said. "Everybody has a different strength. So I just feel like if we can all put it together, we will definitely be an expolsive offense."
The Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts this season. Monken is starting Deshaun Watson at QB in Week 1.
Most people who cover the NFL expect the Browns to really struggle in 2026. However, that may not be such a bad thing.
After all, Arch Manning and Dante Moore will entire the 2027 NFL Draft.
Of the 50 quarterbacks with at least 15 starts since Watson joined the Browns in 2022, only Will Levis has a lower QBR. The odds of Watson turning back the clock after an Achilles tear are pretty low, which is why many NFL pundits believe Cleveland should have started Shedeur Sanders so the team could fully evaluate him for an entire season.
Sanders, though, will take over for Watson at some point this season. After all, the odds of Watson playing well are pretty low, so he'll likely get benched.
