Denzel Boston was seen as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Boston believed that to be the case as well, and he was admittedly disappointed when he fell into the second round.
However, the Cleveland Browns could not have been happier. After selecting wide receiver KC Concepcion in the first round at No. 24 overall, they reportedly considered trading up in the second round in an attempt to add Boston. Instead, their patience was rewarded when he fell to them at No. 39.
Since then, Boston has been considered one of the biggest bargains in the draft. He turned heads at minicamps and OTAs, and he continued to impress at training camp to the point where he has already been named a starter by head coach Todd Monken.
Heading into the Browns’ preseason opener, the rookie is drawing comparisons to Atlanta Falcons star Drake London, who happened to be the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“One Cleveland Browns source told me in camp last week that the rookie second-round wide receiver ‘looks like he can be Drake London for us. His ability to go get the ball is special, but he’s more than that. I don’t care what he runs in a 40. He’s quicker than you think,'” Cameron Wolfe wrote.
The similarities begin with the size of Boston and London, as both are listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. If Boston can measure up to London in other ways, the Browns will be even more thrilled at the value they got with him.
London posted 72 receptions for 866 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, and he eventually progressed to a 100-catch, 1,271-yard, nine-TD season in his third year. After missing just one game in that time, he was limited to 12 games in 2025 by a knee sprain, but he still managed to produce 68 catches for 919 yards and seven TDs.
Those are the kind of numbers expected from a top 10 draft pick, so if the Browns can get them from a top 40 selection, that would be a tremendous accomplishment. There is no reason to believe that they can’t, with Boston showing excellent route running, ability after the catch, and superior hands every day in practice.
Boston seems destined to become the Browns’ No. 1 receiver, maybe as soon as sometime early this season.
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