Is Denzel Boston a perfect fit in the Saints offense?
The New Orleans Saints primary goal this offseason should be to surround Tyler Shough with weapons. The rookie played outstanding down the stretch, despite having a limited supporting cast. One way they can address this is in the 2026 NFL Draft, where there’s an impressive wide receiver class. Perhaps the best fit for the Saints is Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston.
The redshirt junior has spent all four years of his collegiate career at Washington and was named a team captain in 2025. Boston was banged up with an ankle sprain this year but still tallied 62 receptions, 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. This was enough to be selected to the third-team All-Big 10 in 2025. Now, Boston’s expected to be a first-round selection in the upcoming draft.
Boston’s projected to be an X receiver at the next level because of his elite frame at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds, and physicality. He’s a middle-of-the-field threat and has reliable hands that don’t waver with contact. The former Husky has compiled 549 yards between the numbers in 2025. In addition, he’s a monster in contested catch situations. Boston has won 10/13 of these matchups this season. He’s able to box out the defender and high-point the ball. He would be a perfect complement to Chris Olave with his skill set.
What separates Boston from the prototypical X receiver is his athleticism and route running. He ran a fairly limited route tree at Washington, but is capable of more. He’s got long, smooth strides that threaten defenders deep and has great footwork to stop/start on a dime. Boston’s efficient during the breaks of his routes and doesn’t lose much speed. He’s not perfect in this aspect, that’s his biggest knock by scouts, but he has room to improve and is a quality route runner at his floor.
Boston’s athleticism is severely underrated. People look at his size and assume he’s a sub-par athlete, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Boston’s been a kick returner for Washington the past three years, scoring a touchdown this year, and is elusive enough to make people miss. The Huskies frequently use him in screens and allow him to gain yards after the catch. He’s capable of turning a minimal gain into an explosive play.
As an added bonus, Boston is the best blocker in the wide receiver class. He consistently removes defenders from the play. He opens up lanes for running backs when they run behind him. Boston’s an excellent fit for a team that wants to run outside the tackles, which the Saints do.
The Saints need to select a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, and should highly consider spending a first round pick on Denzel Boston. He would be a perfect complement to Chris Olave and would give Tyler Shough another dynamic weapon for the foreseeable future.