March 17, 2026, 8:00 a.m. PT
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL draft. General manager John Spytek will then debate between a number of positions he could target with the 36th pick. Wide receiver is definitely among the positions that could garner Spytek’s attention there.
Seemingly, the Raiders are doing their homework on one of the wide receiver prospects who may be available in that range. The Washington Huskies held their pro day earlier this week. The top prospect in attendance was wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Boston spoke with reporters after partially participating in pro day workouts. He told ESPN’s Brady Henderson that he has 12 pre-draft visits lined up. Boston will begin his gauntlet of in-person meetings by visiting the Raiders later this week.
The consensus is that Boston is a potential late first-round prospect. With the Raiders owning the 36th pick, the fourth selection in the second round, it’s plausible to believe the big-bodied wideout could still be available when the Raiders make their second pick. Being prepared for all scenarios is necessary, and that’s probably why Boston is making a pre-draft visit to Vegas.
The Raiders signed wide receiver Jalen Nailor in free agency, but Boston is a different player. He’s a prototype X-receiver with above-the-rim size at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds. Think Tee Higgins, as Boston pairs a vertical skill set with a massive catch radius. Mendoza would appreciate having a weapon like that at his disposal.
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