In DK Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers know they have one talented receiver. But they also know he might struggle to consistently make an impact without other talented receivers taking some attention away from him. That was something the Steelers struggled with last year, and the position remains a massive need they could address in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A draft that includes Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion as potential first-round candidates.
At the 21st overall pick, one of those five should be available. Reacting to Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft, which had Boston landing in Pittsburgh, Steve Palazzolo understands the selection and thinks Boston would be a good fit.
“Boston’s an interesting pick for the Steelers. You know, QB questions aside. As a complement to DK Metcalf, I think this is a good spot for him in the first round, out of Washington. Tracks the ball well, I think he adjusts to the ball extremely well, catches it well, absolutely, good size,” Palazzolo said Monday on his Check The Mic Podcast.
Palazzolo has wondered earlier this offseason whether the position is worth drafting in the first round if Aaron Rodgers does return. But one thing is sure: the Steelers have to add to it one way or another. And although DK Metcalf’s contract isn’t extremely constricting, the Steelers might not want to hand out another large deal to a receiver in free agency with Metcalf already on the books. Cap space isn’t necessarily an issue in Pittsburgh, but it’s something to keep in mind.
If the draft is the avenue they take, Boston does make sense. As Palazzolo says, he has outstanding ball skills and tracks it well. He’s a big target with surprising speed for his size, and has a big, strong frame to give quarterbacks an easy target. In a lot of ways, he’s similar to Metcalf. It wouldn’t hurt to have both on the field.
However, not everything is perfect in Boston’s game. Boston sometimes struggles against press coverage, and he’s not especially explosive. With other receivers in the draft, perhaps the Steelers look for someone more explosive off the line of scrimmage. That would take advantage of Metcalf occupying defenders down the field. And if Aaron Rodgers comes back he’ll want receivers who can get open quickly.
One way or another, the Steelers are going to need to upgrade at wideout. If it doesn’t happen in free agency, Boston is a candidate to keep in mind. There’s a long way to go, and the pre-draft process may shake up the order a bit. Currently, Tate, Lemon and Tyson all feel likely to come off the board ahead of Denzel Boston. But even if they are, it still makes a lot of sense to bring him in.