Wide receiver has been one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest needs for the past few seasons. DK Metcalf was fine last year, but nobody else in that room made an impact. As a result, the Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. in early March. That gives them a nice one-two punch, but their depth is still lacking. They could still spend a high draft pick on a receiver, though. NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah sees Washington’s Denzel Boston as a perfect fit for Pittsburgh.
“I’ve connected Boston with the Steelers a lot, and I know they brought in Pittman,” Jeremiah said Friday on Steve Smith Sr.’s YouTube channel. “I think they might use Pittman in the slot, give them a jumbo slot in there. DK at one side. I think with Boston, he plays bully ball when the ball is up in the air.
“Having worked in that division for a couple different teams, size and physicality, in that division there, the toughness, the ball winners. Not everything’s gonna be perfect, it’s gonna be windy, and wet, and gross. So, you’ve gotta be able to win when you’re in crowds there, and I think he can do that.”
Jeremiah worked in the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens’ front offices during the 2000s, so he’s very familiar with the AFC North’s physicality. That era helped define the Steelers’ division as one of the toughest in the league.
While the NFL’s rules have changed, that’s still true today. Playing in the AFC North isn’t easy. Boston stands 6-3′ and weighs over 200 pounds, so he’s got the frame to handle playing in that division. All of that size is evident when watching him, too. As Jeremiah says, Boston pops in contested-catch situations.
I've tussled back and forth with Denzel Boston, but the more I watched the more I believe his separation skills are better than perceived and he has a special trait for contested grabs pic.twitter.com/wzay6DSZJk
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 5, 2026
That’s part of how he differs from Metcalf. The Steelers already have a lot of size at wideout with him and Pittman. Therefore, some fans might think another big body like Boston would be redundant. That’s not necessarily true, though.
Metcalf is a freak athlete, being a great vertical threat and good with the ball in his hands. However, he’s not as good at contested catches as his size would suggest.
Meanwhile, Pittman is less of a downfield threat. He’s a better separator, able to find open spots and work in rhythm with his quarterback. He wouldn’t be a traditional slot receiver, but he’s got the skill set to make that role work.
That would free up Boston and Metcalf to win on the outside. The Steelers’ vertical passing attack has had issues, but those two would help fix that. They’d force teams to better respect Pittsburgh’s downfield passing game.
Boston is projected to be a first-round pick, and the Steelers have shown a lot of interest in him. They had a formal meeting with him at the Combine and brought him in for pre-draft visit. He looks like a potential option for them with the 21st pick.
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