The Cleveland Browns are through their first week of 2026 training camp, and Monday marked the first padded practice as the team continues building toward the preseason and eventually the regular season. 

While quarterback talk has dominated much of the focus in Cleveland, another storyline worth pointing out involves rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston. The second-round pick from April’s draft has been one of the most impressive players in camp for the Browns. 

Denzel Boston looks the part for the Browns to this point 

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound wideout has been impressing since the moment he arrived in Cleveland. Boston carried over strong performances from OTAs into training camp, where he keeps making contested catches down the field. He’s shown the ability to get open on routes at all three levels, and there hasn’t been a better wide receiver for the Browns in camp to this point.

Boston’s play has drawn a notable comparison from coach Todd Monken, who likened some of the rookie’s traits to former All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans. Monken coached Evans from 2016 to 2018 when he served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We’re comparing a little early to compare to Mike Evans, who’s an absolute stud,” Monken stated. “Not only from his size, catch radius, ability to bend and get in and out of breaks, has an unbelievable competitive spirit to want to win. When I was with him, he never complained about balls coming his way. He knew they would come his way.”

I loved coaching Mike Evans. He’s an absolute stud and fun to be around. Denzel has some of those attributes in terms of catch radius. I haven’t seen it yet, the edge that Mike plays with yet, but he’s still a rookie, so I wasn’t there for his (Mike’s) first two years. But I think the catch radius and the ability to throw it up to him, you do see certain aspects of Mike’s game in him.”

The comparison tracks when you look at the physical profiles. Evans is 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, and Boston could still potentially grow into his frame a bit more now that he’s in the NFL. Evans has put together a potential Hall of Fame career with 11 straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards to begin his career. His only season under 1,000 yards was 2025 when he had 368 yards in eight games.

Boston was a second-round pick by the Browns when many thought he could go in the first round after a standout career at Washington. Now Cleveland is hoping he and first-round pick KC Concepcion can be a major boost to the wide receiver corps and make the job easier on the quarterback.

What Boston has shown so far is that he’s going to be able to do just that. More padded practices and the preseason approaching will give everyone an early read on how real the Evans comparison can actually look.