Jets insider reveals shocking wide receiver to watch for in first round of NFL Draft

Cimini said who?

Charlie Baduini

Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Jets are going to draft a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. The only question that remains is who, where, and how many.

Heading into next week, the Jets only have two NFL-caliber receivers on the roster. Garrett Wilson is a star, and Adonai Mitchell is at minimum, competent. But behind them? A return specialist in Isaiah Williams and 2025 fourth-round rookie Arian Smith.

New York is keeping their fingers crossed that one of the draft's big three makes it to them in Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon, but there's a high chance that they'll all be selected before pick No. 16.

But there may be another receiver whom the Jets have their eyes on, and according to one insider, he may just be an option at No. 16.

Rich Cimini says keep an eye on WR Denzel Boston as a potential Jets draft pick

On the latest episode of the Jets Collective show, ESPN's Rich Cimini revealed to co-hosts Jake Asman and Brandon Tierney that Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston is shooting up draft boards and could be in play with New York's second first-round selection.

"Here’s a name that no one is talking about that I’m hearing a lot lately is Denzel Boston. File that one away fellas."
Rich Cimini

Asman and Tierney had questions, asking if it was a possibility with the No. 16 pick. Cimini told them that yes, he seems to be turning into a "middle of the first round type of guy."

It's an interesting development, considering Boston hasn't typically been considered a first-round selection by most draft analysts. Heck, even Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. has been mocked ahead of him more often in recent mock drafts.

But Cimini is an incredibly plugged-in reporter, and it's a nugget of information worth noting.

Boston could be the big-bodied wide receiver the Jets have been looking to pair up with Garrett Wilson for years now. The Washington wideout stands at 6-foot-4, 209-pounds. Over his last two seasons in college football, he caught 125 passes for 1,715 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

It would be a bit surprising to see him go at No. 16 overall, but if the Jets really believe in his abilities, why not get your guy?

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.