Below is an excerpt from Washington WR Denzel Boston’s scouting report on The SIS NFL Draft Website.
Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jordan Edwards, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.
Overview
Boston is a big-bodied receiver with smooth athleticism who can be a ball-winner in contested catch situations with strong hands and a physical frame.
Denzel Boston is a big-bodied WR in the pro-style Washington Huskies offense. He is primarily used as the X receiver on the perimeter, but can reduce down into the slot to create advantageous matchups with his size. Washington’s head coach, Jedd Fisch, has an NFL background, and was able to utilize Boston’s skill set in a way that can translate effectively to the next level. He suffered an ankle injury later in the 2025 season, but didn’t cause him to miss any games. He also had surgery for a sports hernia in the offseason, prior to the start of the 2025 season. He is a big-bodied wide receiver with good length and physicality to his frame. He is a smooth athlete who moves very well for his size and has excellent body control to match. He lacks elite explosiveness and quick-twitch movements, but still is a good athlete at his size. He is a competitive player who battled through injury to stay on the field in the latter part of the season, and will compete as an in-line blocker in the run game.
Boston has the skill set desired for a typical X receiver in an NFL offense. His size and frame create a natural advantage against most cornerbacks he will face. While he can evade the presence of press-man coverage at the LOS, players who can match his physicality can stifle him at the line. He displays a reliable release package that can set up his routes. At the catch point, he shows strong hands to attack and pluck the ball out of the air. He shows the concentration to catch while on the move and turn up field to create YAC opportunities. He displays a diverse route tree who can excel as a deep threat and on in-breaking routes too. An area of improvement is generating more explosion out of his breaks to create a little more separation. He is also a reliable receiver in contested catch situations. His balance, play strength, and strong hands allow him to attack the ball in traffic. His balance and body control allow him to stay grounded as a route runner and not get knocked off his path. He also shows savvy and IQ as a route runner, whether it is settling down in space or throwing a quick stutter or shoulder fake to create small pockets of separation downfield. He can track the ball vertically and has shown to adjust well to off-target throws and can secure the ball cleanly. Even though he is a good athlete, the lack of elite explosion can limit the separation he can create on a consistent basis. This can also translate over to his ability to extend plays after the catch. He isn’t a negative in this area, but there is more to be desired as a creator after the catch.
In the run game, Boston is as competitive as a blocker that you can ask for. He can do the typical stalk blocking that most receivers are asked to do, but he can be useful as an in-line blocker to generate explosive runs. He can be used in the slot with reduced splits and work to the second level, and he has even shown the ability to pin and seal edges at the POA on runs out the perimeter.
Boston projects to be an outside X receiver at the next level with his size, athleticism, and ball skills. While he isn’t a truly explosive receiving threat, his skill set translates well for his role in an NFL offense. His route tree and usage in college should allow him to ease into a role at the next level having already run pro-style concepts. His athleticism, body control, and contested catch reliability can help him carve out a role as a No. 2 option in an offense as a big-bodied receiving threat. On 3rd downs, he can win as the lone WR on a side of a formation, and can be a mismatch in the slot in both the run and pass game. He also has special teams ability having competed in the area consistently throughout his collegiate career and even returned a punt for a TD this season.
Click here to read the full report and ratings from Jordan Edwards, as well as statistical analysis from our R&D team.
