"Not Something You Get A Lot": Steelers' WR Draft Prospect Claims To Have Unique Meeting With Mike McCarthy

There will be a time when the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't consistently brought up when it comes to needing capable wide receivers, but fans will likely have to wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft. In a class that is expected to produce plenty of talent, General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike McCarthy are going to do their due diligence in the coming months. Free agency and the trade market always need to be considered; however, the organization already has a pass-catcher getting over $30 million per year in DK Metcalf. It would be wise to invest in younger playmakers that can make a difference for several seasons.

There is going to be plenty of talk surrounding Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon, and rightfully so as the trio is incredibly talent. One of them may even fall into the Steelers' lap at the 21st overall pick. If the run on wide receivers begins early, though, Pittsburgh will have to pivot and decide if one of the other prospects with a first-round grade is worth taking so high up. The last time the organization took a wideout in round one was back in 2006 (Santonio Holmes).

An intriguing player to keep an eye on is Denzel Boston out of the University of Washington. He is certainly in the conversation to be taken within the top 32 selections, which is why there is no reason not to link him to the Steelers. A 62-catch, 881-yard season in 2025 made his case to go in the first round, and he also tacked on 11 touchdowns. He is elusive, a red zone threat, and an all-around receiver.

Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on some of what happened with Pittsburgh at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and noted that the team used at least 14 of 45 formal interviews on pass-catchers. That's a pretty staggering number that displays what the new coaching staff may be looking for. Per Carter, Boston mentioned that his time spent with the Steelers was different, but in a positive way.

"Talking with coach Mike McCarthy was great,” Boston said. “Their meeting was more about getting to know me and getting to understand me. I really appreciate it. That’s not something you get a lot. It would be nice to go on a [top] 30 visit with them."

This isn't a coincidence. Despite there being a new man in charge of the locker room in McCarthy, the Steelers have always cared about character and maturity throughout any draft process — just as much as talent. It's not always going to be perfect, but the franchise makes it a point to get to know the individuals as people rather than just throwing on highlight tapes and asking them about football. That's a much different approach than most, as Boston said.

Boston is just shy of 6'4" and weighs in at about 212 pounds. He is a big body that will provide stability for whichever team decides to draft him. In all likelihood, he will be a first-rounder, and the Steelers are already expressing interest. Most players are simply just saying what everyone wants to hear this time of year; however, it's certainly good that Boston acknowledged his desire to go on an official Top 30 visit to the Steel City.

Steelers Likely To Double Dip At Wide Receiver In 2026 NFL Draft

Metcalf is going to be a crucial piece in Pittsburgh's wide receivers' room, but there remains a lot of work to be done. Fans will get more of an idea about the organization's plans after free agency, as Khan can be extremely unpredictable at times. However, when a brass meets with 14 prospects that play the same position, it should tell everyone that there is a major focus being put on that area, which should lead one to believe that Khan has plans to potentially draft two wideouts in 2026.

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