Despite trading for Michael Pittman Jr., the Pittsburgh Steelers have a depth and youth issue at wide receiver. Pittman and his new teammate, DK Metcalf, will turn 29 years old during the 2026 season, and McCarthy still doesn't have a receiver he can run his offense through. While Pittsburgh has more pressing needs at the moment, receiver is certainly on the table still in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
Since early in the pre-draft process, the Steelers have been frequently linked to Washington Huskies standout Denzel Boston. The big wide receiver has impressive smoothness for his size, but questions remain about his long speed.
And they didn't go away after his Washington Pro Day this week.
Despite being fully healthy and showing off his route-running at his all-important Pro Day, Boston elected not to run a 40-yard dash. This wouldn't have been a big deal if not for the fact that he already opted out of the 40-yard dash during February's NFL Scouting Combine.
Boston, a potential first-round prospect, should have Steelers fans concerned at this point.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to gamble on WR Denzel Boston in Round 1 of the NFL Draft
There are some things I love about Boston's game. The big-bodied wideout has strong hands, quality route-running, and impressive red zone ability. However, there were already major questions about his ability to separate on tape... and those just got amplified.
There's a simple reason Boston didn't run the 40 at his Pro Day or the Combine: he's not fast.
This advice likely came from his agent and the team in his corner, not wanting him to hurt his draft stock. Had Boston run a 4.60 or worse, scouts and teams might have gotten hung up on this number, overshadowing the things he does well on the football field.
Athletic traits are hardly the most important trait for today's NFL wide receiver. Jaxon Smith-Njigba chose not to run at the NFL Combine before clocking a 4.52 at his Ohio State Pro Day in 2023. Meanwhile, Puka Nacua posted a 4.57 40-yard dash at his BYU Pro Day, while Amon Ra St. Brown ran a 4.61 at his USC Pro Day.
Natural ability obviously trumps testing numbers. But when a player like Boston—who already shows issues creating space on film—doesn't run, fans have the right to be nervous. What if he's a 4.64 guy? At some point, we have to consider the lack of speed and the unwillingness to put his 40 time on display as potential red flags.
Boston isn't the best fit with Pittsburgh anyway. With Pittman and Metcalf in town, the Steelers don't necessarily need another 6'4'' receiver—they need a guy who can dominate from the slot with the ability to get open with ease and make defenders miss after the catch. This does not fit the description of Boston.
Considering the Steelers' roster makeup, Boston doesn't feel like a match. But this is a player who has been linked to Pittsburgh since the beginning of the pre-draft process, and this team still has a need for youth, talent, and depth at receiver. At the very least, Boston's questionable speed should have fans slightly concerned.