Expected First-Round Draft Pick Explains Why Patriots Should Trade Up For Him
The New England Patriots are back at work as they begin their preparations for the upcoming 2026 campaign. The first major event on the Pats’ offseason to-do list is the 2026 NFL Draft Combine, where the team will begin identifying which prospects they want to target throughout the draft.
One area of need for the Patriots is the wide receiver position. While N.E. is armed with the No. 31 overall pick, that takes them out of the range of selecting a guy like Washington Huskies star wide receiver Denzel Boston. When asked specifically why a team like the Pats should move up the board for him, Boston made a quick pitch to the team.
“I think going through the combine is definitely gonna establish why teams should think that way,” Boston said in an interview with NFL insider Josina Anderson. “I believe that I’m a great player. I’m a receiver; I catch the ball. I have a great contested catch rate, I have a low drop rate, and I have a high catch rate overall. I believe if I’m a receiver and I do what receivers do at a high level, why not come get me?”
A physical outside receiver, Boston starred for Washington over the past two seasons as one of the top red zone threats in the nation. In 2025, Boston hauled in 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns, with the overarching expectation being that he will get selected at some point midway through the first round.
There’s a chance Boston could fall to New England at the end of the first round, but the likelihood of that happening appears to be slim. If the Pats identify him as a player they like, they’d be better off making a trade to move up the board for him, and who knows, maybe that’s something the front office will consider doing.
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