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Why the Bills may consider this physical receiver in first round

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Why the Bills may consider this physical receiver in first round


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By trading away the Buffalo Bills’ second-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the DJ Moore deal, president/GM Brandon Beane has created a tricky situation for himself on the first two days of the NFL Draft.

If he stays put at No. 26 in the first round, there’s a good chance he’ll be taking a player who he doesn’t have a first-round grade on because typically no team has more than, say, 15-20 first-round grades in any draft.

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However, because the Bills don’t have another pick until the third round at No. 91, unless Beane executes a trade down and out of the first round to situate himself in the second round where there will likely be better value on any player he picks, he may have no choice but to reach slightly at No. 26, and a player who might be worth doing it for is Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston.

Throughout the draft process, Boston has been considered by analysts as a late first- or early second-round prospect which would place him in Buffalo’s wheelhouse if Beane is considering adding another wide receiver to an already crowded room.

Moore, Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer are expected to be the Bills’ top three receivers, armed with contracts that dictate they will be on the team and playing a lot. Keon Coleman remains an enigma who Beane and coach Joe Brady continue to say they still believe in. And Trent Sherfield was signed to fill the role of injured Tyrell Shavers as the No. 5 blocking wideout and core special teamer.

That’s why it’s difficult to project the Bills taking a receiver in the first round, especially with some glaring areas that need to be addressed on defense. Now, if Beane and Brady have been gaslighting us for two months with their public shows of faith in Coleman and their plan is to try to trade him for whatever they can get – maybe a sixth-round pick – to open his roster spot, a first-round receiver becomes more plausible.

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“He’s going to give you the combination of (size and speed),” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said of Boston. “He can win at the line of scrimmage against press and he’s a red zone weapon who can play above the rim. He can adjust in the middle of the field, he’s a point scorer. He reminded me a lot of (Denver Bronco) Courtland Sutton.”

At 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, Boston would bring size and physicality to the position for Buffalo, something Coleman brought when Beane took him at the top of the second round in 2024, though that hasn’t manifested itself in production, especially given his draft status.

Coleman was considered a big-time contested catch receiver at Florida State, but according to Pro Football Focus charting, his success rate was 45.8%. In his two years with the Bills, it has plummeted to 36.4%.

In Boston’s two years as a starter at Washington his contested catch success was 61.1% and he did that with a miniscule 3.6% drop rate. Among the receivers projected to be first-round picks in this draft, only Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon – who most believe will be the first three receivers off the board, all before No. 26 – had better drop percentages than Boston.

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When he was asked at the NFL scouting combine which NFL receivers he studies, Boston listed three who are big, physical players – Mike Evans, Tee Higgins and Nico Collins – meaning the type of receiver Josh Allen has never had in Buffalo.

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“I think the physical and dominant traits that I have will translate directly into the game as I get there,” said Boston, who exuded a bubbly personality during his media session. “Also, having a great contested catch rate and low drop rate. You know, we’re receivers, we catch the ball and that’s what we do. I think that’s something that will translate as well.”

He confirmed that he did meet with the Bills in Indianapolis so there is at least some interest, and the reason is partly because Boston was primarily an outside receiver in college. The Bills have Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid to operate from the slot, but they need boundary targets who can separate, especially if Moore or Palmer were to get hurt.

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“Oh, I believe I can be a great separator at the next level,” Boston said. “I have creativity in my bag that I’m just waiting to be able to use. I believe I’ve displayed that as well.”

On the Check the Mic Show hosted by former PFF analysts Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson, they agreed that Boston would be a solid choice for Buffalo, even if No. 26 is a slight reach.

“I actually think when you look at his strengths, he’s a perfect fit,” Monson said. “I know Buffalo fans have PTSD over Keon Coleman. But when you look at (Boston’s) strengths, he will get open deep in a way, on the outside against press coverage, that none of the other Bills receivers do. I think his skill set is a perfect complement for what Buffalo has.”

Palazzolo added, “My initial notes, I said I think he’d be a good fit for (Patrick) Mahomes because of (his ability in the scramble drill to get open). Now, of course, Josh Allen lives in the scramble drill world eight to 10 times a game. And I know Boston has been mocked to the Bills at the end of the first round, and I think he’s fine there. I think he’s solid at a lot of things, I think he’s got a really good feel for the position. Scramble drill adjustments are fantastic. Hands are amazing.”

What analysts are saying about Denzel Boston

Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “Boston builds his speed with smooth, long strides and naturally adjusts with the hand strength of a ball winner which should quickly earn him the trust of an NFL quarterback. With his ability to win inside or outside, his game has shades of 2025 Houston Texans draft pick Jayden Higgins. A good-sized athlete, Boston plays big and balanced with vacuum hands. He treats the catch point like he’s a power forward in the paint, boxing out and using his rangy frame and focus to secure the football.”

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Chris Trapasso, DraftGradeBook: “Overall, Boston projects as a specialized but valuable NFL X receiver whose game is built around size, vertical presence, and contested-catch ability. He isn’t going to win with suddenness or high-level route nuance, but in the right offense – particularly one that leans on isolation routes, backside digs, and schemed vertical shots – he can be a consistent chain mover and periodic splash-play producer.”

Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.



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Boston, MA

Saturday storm will bring bursts of rain, strong winds, and… snow?

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Saturday storm will bring bursts of rain, strong winds, and… snow?


Surprise: Another weekend and there’s more rain on the way. It’s bad enough we’ve had to post a First Alert.

For now, we’ll watch as clouds thicken today. We’ll squeeze out some drops later this afternoon and evening.

A weather maker is winding up in Canada, wrapping in cold air. All of that is going to dive down to New England.

We’re in the thick of it tomorrow. Rain will be coming at us in bursts with some dry time in between. Winds will likely push past 50 mph in Boston.

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Those winds will eat away at temperatures; with wind chills barely above freezing. And no – not just in the morning – but the afternoon, too!

It’s so cold there’s the threat of snow as that rain bumps into colder air over the Berkshires, Worcester Hills and southern New Hampshire right up to Mount Washington.

The snow isn’t going to pile up but just know there could be some flakes flying over our highest hills.  

The blue on our Futurecast map marks the spots where snow could mix with rain.

Rain spins out by Saturday evening but not before dumping about half an inch over Boston.

We’ll try to salvage the rest of the weekend with temperatures in the upper 60s by Sunday. Still, there’s the threat of bits and pieces of rain.

By the way, this isn’t any weekend, it’s the last weekend of spring. Meteorological summer starts on June 1.

The first day of summer remains drab and dreary with more rain chances and temperatures in the low 60 on Monday.

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Boston, MA

House GOP demands ‘sanctuary city’ info from Boston law enforcement

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House GOP demands ‘sanctuary city’ info from Boston law enforcement


Federal immigration demands are once again centered on Massachusetts.

The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday sent three letters to Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden demanding, among other things, information on how many ICE detainers BPD has received and declined to honor from 2022 to 2026 and any communication between the three departments related to immigration.

House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said in a statement that “releasing repeat criminals back to the streets solely because of their immigration status is crazy, and that’s exactly what Boston is doing.”

But Democrats push back on that framing.

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“You’re familiar with Jim Jordan and his antics,” said Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. “This is more circus, it’s more theater and it’s not making our community safe.”

A spokesperson for the City of Boston wrote, “the city has provided this information many times…” going on to say “…these policies are part of keeping Boston the safest major city in America.”

The letters call for the documents to be sent to the House Judiciary Committee by June 10th at 5:00 pm. District Attorney Hayden’s office told NBC 10 they are reviewing the letter, neither Commissioner Cox or Sheriff Tompkins responded to requests for comment.



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A look inside Joan Bennett Kennedy’s Back Bay condo, listed for $2.6m

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A look inside Joan Bennett Kennedy’s Back Bay condo, listed for .6m


On the Market

Ted Kennedy Jr. speaks on the importance of his late mother’s Boston home, now for sale.

250 Beacon St. #10 is on the market for $2.59 million. Surette Media Group

At first glance, Joan Bennett Kennedy’s Back Bay home may not appear all that unusual, but the endless stories held within its walls illustrate how a sacred space became one woman’s shelter from the storm.

After divorcing Ted Kennedy in 1982, Bennett Kennedy returned to Boston and moved into 250 Beacon St. #10, and remained there for more than four decades until her death at age 89 in October. Now, her three-bedroom, three-bathroom home, which measures 2,075 square feet, is on the market at $2.59 million.

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“Her home really played an important part in the transformation of her life,” her son, Ted Kennedy Jr., told the Globe. “She was a newly divorced woman coming back, trying to reestablish her roots in Boston, and she had her music, which was part of her unique identity, apart from being married to my father. She was seeking to reinvent herself and live on her own terms.”

A hallway inside the 2,075-square-foot condo. – Surette Media Group

It was there at 250 Beacon where Bennett Kennedy restarted her life. She earned a master’s degree in music education at 44, and became a staple on the Boston classical music scene, thanks to her lifelong dedication to the piano. But it was also where she faced significant struggles, ranging from depression to alcoholism. She didn’t hide her battles at a time when they weren’t commonly discussed.

“She paved the way for many other women who were suffering in silence,” said Kennedy Jr. “The Boston community just took her in and provided her with friendship and support.”

The circa-1925 building features an elegant lobby that leads to the elevators. Inside the fifth-floor unit, a foyer flows into a hallway and into the spacious living room, where hardwood floors run throughout and a wood-burning fireplace sits under a unique carved mantel surrounded by marble. But it’s the windows that capture the eyes, with views of the treetops and the Charles River in the distance.

Large windows bring in natural light and look out to the city. – Surette Media Group
Joan Bennett Kennedy was an avid pianist. – Surette Media Group
The living room fireplace has a marble surround. – Surette Media Group

“She would sit at her piano in the condo every afternoon for hours,” said Kennedy, who noted that the home later served as the spot where his mother penned “The Joy of Classical Music,” a guide for introducing classical music to families. Prominent musical figures, including John Williams, Seiji Ozawa, and Arthur Fiedler, were frequent guests.

The open floor plan continues in the dining area and library, filled with built-in bookcases and oversized windows.

The space has built-in storage and shelving throughout. – Surette Media Group

The living room fireplace is two-sided; on its opposite side is the primary bedroom suite, with built-in bookshelves and a massive bay window with beautiful views. The primary suite features an en-suite bathroom with a pink vanity.

The primary bathroom with its pink vanity. – Surette Media Group

“These front rooms, all three of them, the amount of glass and the size of these windows are just magnificent,” said Linda Barrett of Douglas Elliman, who has the listing and knew Kennedy for years. “Being on the fifth floor, she sat right at the tree line, looking at the Charles River.”

A second of three full bathrooms has elegant marble tiles and a step-in shower. Across the hallway are two closets for storage and the galley kitchen with green/blue cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.

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The kitchen is galley style. – Surette Media Group
One of three bedrooms. – Surette Media Group

There are three bedrooms, one with teal carpeting and ample built-in storage.

The home has central air, and the building has a live-in superintendent. The fee is $1,725.39 per month. The piano is not included as part of the sale.


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Megan Johnson

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Megan Johnson is a Boston-based writer and reporter whose work appears in People, Architectural Digest, The Boston Globe, and more.





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