It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate to upgrade their wide receiver position. They addressed the need in free agency by trading for Michael Pittman Jr., but there is still more work to be done. Even with Pittman Jr. joining DK Metcalf, the Steelers have not fully solved the issue. Do not be surprised if they target a wide receiver early in the NFL Draft.
The Steelers have been linked to nearly every top wide receiver in the draft. Ideally, they would land one of the top three prospects at the position: Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, or Makai Lemon. While adding any of those players would be a dream scenario for Pittsburgh, it remains unlikely. As a result, the Steelers may need to look beyond the top tier to find their next wide receiver.
One name that continues to be frequently linked to the franchise across most mock drafts is Denzel Boston.
The Washington Huskies receiver is a big-bodied weapon. He consistently uses his size to his advantage when beating coverage. Boston is strong at the point of attack and has leaned on that physicality to shape his game. However, his Pro Day raised some concerns.
While expectations for his 40-yard dash time were low, his decision not to run at his Washington Pro Day could be viewed as a red flag by several teams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should consider lowering WR Denzel Boston on their NFL Draft board
ESPN ranks Boston as the fourth-best wide receiver in the NFL Draft and the 19th overall prospect. While his talent is undeniable, there are legitimate reasons for concern. He could be a reasonable option for the Steelers if they remain at the 21st pick in the first round, but he should not be their top priority. The Washington product may ultimately offer more of the same rather than a true upgrade.
Adding Boston to a receiver room that already features two big weapons in Metcalf and Pittman Jr. would result in more of the same. The Steelers already have multiple big-bodied receivers in the mix. While Metcalf is more explosive than Pittman Jr., both rely heavily on strength and physicality.
Pittsburgh needs a true difference maker, which points to the need for a more elusive weapon capable of creating explosive plays with the ball in his hands.
If the Steelers are comfortable adding more of the same, then Boston would make sense as a first-round target. His decision not to run the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day should not completely deter teams, but it is a detail worth noting in his scouting report. Speed has never been a defining part of his game, and declining to run has only amplified those concerns.
While this latest development involving one of their top draft targets is frustrating, it does not completely remove Boston from the Steelers’ plans.
However, he should not be their top option at this stage. Instead, moving up to secure a more explosive playmaker like Makai Lemon should be the priority. The Steelers face several difficult decisions, but adding Boston would further stock a receiving corps already filled with similar play styles.