The Carolina Panthers are putting in the work ahead of this year’s NFL Draft, and their latest move has fans buzzing. On Thursday, the team brought in Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston for a top-30 visit, as reported by ESPN’s Field Yates. These visits allow teams to get a closer look at draft prospects through interviews and medical evaluations, which are vital pieces of the pre-draft process.
Boston isn’t just any prospect. At 22 years old, the Puyallup, Washington native has made waves during his college career. He was named Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2025 and compiled an impressive stat line over four seasons with the Huskies: 132 catches for 1,781 yards and 20 touchdowns. He even showed some versatility with a two-yard rushing score.
His 2025 campaign truly turned heads. Boston hauled in 62 passes for 881 yards and found the end zone 11 times through the air. He also made an impact on special teams, taking a punt back 78 yards for a touchdown—a reminder that he can be a game-changer in multiple phases.
Standing just over 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, Boston brings size and physicality that’s hard to ignore. His frame and style have drawn comparisons to current Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan, who was also a first-round pick in 2025 after playing under coach Jedd Fisch at Arizona. That connection brings some shared history between player and staff.
Boston’s pro comparison, Puka Nacua, is enough to pique any fan’s interest considering Nacua’s recent success as a rookie. Scouting reports suggest Boston could develop into a solid NFL starter within a couple of years. That kind of projection is exactly what gets teams like Carolina thinking hard about using valuable draft capital on a player like him.
However, not everyone in Panthers Nation is convinced he’s the right fit, at least not right now. The team has invested heavily in big-bodied receivers recently. Both McMillan and fellow first-rounder Xavier Legette are tall, physical targets who have built strong chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young. Some fans and analysts argue that adding another receiver with nearly identical measurements might be overkill.
It’s easy to see both sides of the debate. On one hand, you can never have too many reliable pass catchers, especially ones who can win contested balls downfield and help in the red zone. Boston’s ability to play “above the rim” and make spectacular grabs is well documented. He averaged nearly 14.5 yards per target last season according to Pro Football Focus and racked up more than 600 yards after the catch over two seasons.
On the other hand, there are calls for more diversity in the receiver room, not just more size. Some fans would rather see Carolina pursue quicker slot receivers or shifty playmakers who bring a different dynamic to the offense. There’s also history working against this pick. If drafted in Round One, Boston would make it three straight years of Carolina picking receivers with their top choice, something the franchise has never done before.
Carolina isn’t alone in their interest. The Dolphins are scheduled to host Boston for their own top-30 visit next week, reportedly seeing him as someone who could transform their traditionally smaller receiving corps into a more physically imposing group. The Pittsburgh Steelers recently hosted Boston as well and are said to be intrigued by his physical profile.
All this attention makes it clear: Denzel Boston is one of this draft cycle’s most talked-about pass catchers. Whether or not he ends up wearing Panther blue remains to be seen, but fans are already picturing what he might look like lining up alongside McMillan and Legette—or debating if that’s even necessary.
With the draft fast approaching and visits wrapping up across the league, all eyes are on front offices to see which direction they’ll go when they’re finally on the clock. For now, Panthers fans will have to wait and keep speculating about whether Denzel Boston will become Carolina’s next big thing or simply another talented visitor passing through Bank of America Stadium this spring.
