Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston G Fiume/GettyImages

Commanders mock draft stunner could end run for injury-prone veteran

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 12:00 PM ET

The Washington Commanders have dealt with some significant injury problems to begin the season. Among the most concerning have centered on the wide receiver room.

Terry McLaurin has now missed three games after he was ruled out against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Noah Brown, whose summer was disrupted by a knee issue, hasn't featured since Week 2. It's placed the onus on others, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has done a nice job of adjusting his scheme effectively to compensate for these absences.

This won't go unnoticed by general manager Adam Peters. The front-office leader will know more is needed, whether Deebo Samuel Sr. gets extended or not. Brown cannot be depended upon to stay healthy anymore, so this could be his final season in Washington if a suitable replacement can be found.

Commanders select Denzel Boston in CBS Sports' latest 2026 mock draft

Ryan Wilson from CBS Sports had the perfect candidate in mind during his latest 2026 mock draft. The analyst tabbed Washington Huskies' pass-catcher Denzel Boston as the ideal big-bodied replacement for Brown, citing his ability to create mismatches across various schematic alignments as something that could help the Commanders immediately.

Denzel Boston is a big, physical WR with a massive catch radius, contested-catch ability and the speed to separate quickly and hit top-end velocity in 2 to 3 steps. Boston is an effective route runner at all three levels, will run through arm tackles in space and can outmuscle defenders in the red zone. While primarily an outside threat, his size, strength and hands make him a potential matchup problem in the slot, too.Ryan Wilson

WHAT A GRAB IN THE END ZONE! @UW_Football TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/dXIfjzqHHO
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025

A lot can and will happen by then. The Commanders' needs will shift, and they might have a new offensive coordinator if Kingsbury takes a head coaching job. But if they are on the hunt for a first-round wideout to offer something a little bit different, they could do far worse than examine Boston's credentials in greater detail.

Boston can do everything Brown brings to the table. He's faster and is much more accomplished in contested catch situations. This also makes him a supreme red-zone threat, which will enable him to become an immediate asset for superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Whether the Commanders have enough elsewhere to spend their first-round pick on a wide receiver remains to be seen. They could use a young edge rusher or another cornerback. Finding a long-term replacement for veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner is another possibility, so it's uncertain how things will unfold at this early stage.

But if the pick does end up being Boston, that'll provide significant intrigue.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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