ESPN's Matt Miller named this Washington Huskies WR as the best fit choice for the Las Vegas Raiders entering Round 2 of the draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders have their quarterback of the future after selecting Indiana Hoosiers star Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Now, the Raiders need to add pieces around him in order for the Heisman Trophy winner to have success early on.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins could begin the season as the QB1, but that remains to be seen. Still, besides running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers, there aren't a ton of exciting options on offense for Mendoza.
Going into Round 2, ESPN's Matt Miller named the best fits for some teams, and for the Raiders, he named Washington Huskies star wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Boston could be the Raiders pick at No. 36, but Miller's latest mock draft has the Buffalo Bills selecting him at No. 35 in what would be a tough blow.
Still, there's a chance, and Miller expressed why this is a pick the Raiders need to make if Boston is on the board.
"They've added several pass catchers over the past couple of offseasons, including Brock Bowers, Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jalen Nailor. They're missing just one thing: a big-bodied "X" receiver to take advantage of Mendoza's lethal back-shoulder ball," Miller wrote.
Boston was regarded as a potential first-round pick, but the board was much different than what most analysts predicted with some movement taking place on Thursday night.
That means Boston is still there going into Day 2, and he is the top WR in the group, alongside Alabama's Germie Bernard.
"He isn't the smoothest route runner with the sharpest cuts, but he's plenty functional for his size, and his ability to track and win the ball in the air is exactly what the Raiders need. Boston has a better second gear than he's given credit for and has vacuum hands downfield. I'd wager he would quickly win Mendoza's trust and become a three-down player in a Raiders receivers room that needs a star to emerge," Miller added.
The last part is key: He would win Mendoza's trust, and be a three-down player.
That is exactly what the Raiders need at the WR position, and Jakobi Meyers was traded at the deadline last year, and the rest of the WR room is still a work in progress.
Boston played his entire college career at Washington, and he had 125 catches combined in his last two seasons with over 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns, so he would instantly be a jolt to the Raiders offense and give Mendoza a top target to throw to.
If Boston isn't there at No. 36, the Raiders likely address other needs and wait until Round 3 to add a wide receiver, but the hope in Sin City is that Boston remains on the board at No. 36.