The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting their best foot forward with Mike McCarthy leading the charge in the post-Mike Tomlin era. As the new head coach puts the finishing touches on his coaching staff, fans are looking ahead to the moves this team will make when it comes to contracts and free agency.
However, no move could be bigger than the direction this team goes with McCarthy's first-ever Steelers draft pick.
After an early exit from the NFL playoffs, the Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft—and it's only fitting that, in a season of major change, the 2026 draft will be held in Pittsburgh. While many fans believe the new front office and coaching regime could finally take their big swing at a quarterback, McCarthy may have other plans.
Not only does the Steelers' top draft need already feel painfully obvious, but we might already be ableto narrow down the player that McCarthy is eying with the No. 21 pick in the 2026 draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be eyeing Washington WR Denzel Boston with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
There are three things we know about Mike McCarthy-led offenses: he's going to operate frequently out of shotgun, he's going to call the plays, and he needs a true No. 1 receiver for his offense to run effectively.
McCarthy needs a receiver with a full route tree who can be just as effective working from the slot and manipulating defenses as he is on the outside. This does not fit the description of DK Metcalf. Despite the heavy investment in Metcalf—a second-round pickin the trade with the Seattle Seahawks and a steep, $33 million per year contract—Metcalf should serve as the team's WR2.
This means the Steelers need a go-to option in the passing game.
Unfortunately, this isn't something the front office can find in free agency, as some of the top names on the market are expected to be Alec Pierce, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jauan Jennings, and an aging Mike Evans. That means the Steelers will have to act fast in the NFL Draft.
McCarthy has always had a reliable, go-to option in the passing game. The player has changed over the years, but the role remained the same. McCarthy went one 100-catch, 1,000-yard receiver to the next. Over his 13 seasons as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy began with top receiver Greg Jennings before the role shifted to Jordy Nelson and ultimately Davante Adams.
In Dallas, McCarthy's first-ever draft choice as the Cowboys' head coach was CeeDee Lamb, who proved to be a lethal pass-catching threat right away.
While McCarthy's ultimate goal may be to trade up for one of the top three receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft (Jordyn Tyson would be an ideal fit), this might not be possible. If the Steelers stand pat at pick 21, Denzel Boston could be McCarthy's top option.
Though he may not measure in as big as his listed size indicates (6'4'', 209 pounds), Boston has more than enough size to operate as McCarthy's top pass-catcher. The big wideout was a precise route-runner for the Huskies with strong, reliable hands at the catch point.
Boston stacked back-to-back 800-yard seasons at Washington in 2024 and 2025 while combining for 20 touchdown catches during this stretch. While he profiles more as a No. 2 receiver at the next level, he could be a solid scheme fit for the Steelers, thanks to his well-rounded skill set.
Boston has drawn NFL player comparisons to Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, and he's cut from the same cloth as Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pitman. He's a wide receiver who won't wow you with his top-end speed, but he does all of the little things well and knows how to beat coverages, whether it's breaking press or finding the soft spot in the zone.
Denzel Boston probably wouldn't be the flashiest selection when the Steelers are on the clock—especially compared to some of the splash playmakers at the wide receiver position set to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. But the addition of Mike McCarthy already put the Washington product firmly on the first-round radar of the Pittsburgh Steelers.