Todd McShay’s Mock Draft Throws a Grenade at Vikings

Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington wideout Denzel Boston (WO08) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images.

For the last five weeks, nine out of ten NFL mock drafts have featured Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman to the Minnesota Vikings. Only very recently has the mock-draft community begun to diversify. Among those examples is The Ringer‘s Todd McShay, formerly of ESPN. connecting Minnesota to Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston in Round 1.

McShay may have reopened Minnesota’s WR debate at No. 18.

Fans shouldn’t rule out a WR pick, and one week before the draft, McShay is all over it.

Why a Receiver at No. 18 Has Real Traction

The idea sounds jarring, though the logic is easy to find.

Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) reacts after hauling in a touchdown reception during second-quarter action, Oct. 12, 2024, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, celebrating the scoring play as Washington builds momentum against Iowa in a cross-conference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

McShay: Boston to MIN at No. 18

Passing on Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, McShay rolled with Boston to Kevin O’Connell’s team.

He defended the selection, “The Vikings had real issues catching the football last season, and the situation hasn’t exactly improved. With Jalen Nailor now in Las Vegas, they’re currently planning to give Tai Felton and his three rookie receptions a starting role. That’s a problem.”

“This pick might feel a bit rich for Boston, but based on conversations I had with a couple of teams over the weekend, the gap between him, KC Concepcion, and Omar Cooper Jr. isn’t nearly as wide for some teams as the draft community may think. It really comes down to stylistic preference, and for Minnesota, the need is clear: a big, physical outside receiver to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Boston fits that mold perfectly.”

It’s the first prominent mock draft to link Boston to the Vikings.

Boston’s Rookie Profile

Boston is 6’4″ and 210 pounds. He’s 22 and ran a 4.6 forty at the NFL Combine. The Washington alumnus is a deep-ball killer, touchdown scorer, and yards-after-catch guy on top of it all. On the downside, he might struggle to beat man coverage early in the pros, and the 4.6 speed obviously isn’t dazzling.

At Washington in the last two seasons, Boston tabulated 125 receptions, 1,715 yards, and 20 touchdowns.

NFL Draft Buzz on Boston: “Boston isn’t going to run past NFL corners with pure speed, and his decision to skip the 40-yard dash at Washington’s pro day only adds to the questions about his long speed. When a receiver with his profile chooses not to run, evaluators notice.”

“The vertical jump improvement to 37.5 inches at the pro day was a nice touch, reinforcing the short-area explosiveness, but it doesn’t answer the straight-line concerns. Still, he plays the position with intelligence and physicality that should translate.”

The Vikings don’t have many tall receivers, and Boston would instantly fix that.

Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) celebrates after reaching the end zone during first-half action, Sep. 20, 2025, at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium in Pullman, marking a touchdown in the Apple Cup rivalry matchup against Washington State. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images.

NDB added, “The adjustment period at the next level will center on his release package and ability to defeat press coverage consistently. Physical NFL corners will test him early, and he’ll need more variety and craftiness off the line to avoid getting rerouted.”

“The speed questions won’t go away until he proves it on Sundays, and that’s a fair concern for a receiver being discussed in the first-round conversation. That said, his ball skills are dependable, his competitive makeup suggests he’ll put in the work, and he has the tools and mentality to develop into a productive starter who wins his share of one-on-one opportunities.”

Yes, a WR Could Be the Pick

Some fans will see wide receiver for the Vikings in mock drafts and think, “What are we even doing?” On the surface, that’s a fair assessment.

However, Justin Jefferson’s guaranteed money runs out after 2026, Jalen Nailor no longer works for the Vikings, Jordan Addison’s off-the-field patterns are sketchy, and no one knows if last year’s rookie, Tai Felton, is any good. Then, that’s it for Vikings wide receivers.

Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) secures a touchdown catch during second-quarter play, Nov. 8, 2025, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, completing the scoring play against Wisconsin as Washington’s offense capitalizes on a key drive in conference action. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

The position is not an urgent need, but the case for a Round 1 wideout in Minnesota is not silly. Also remember that Minnesota has a rich, rich history of drafting wide receivers. It’s the Vikings’ thing.

Other Frontrunners

If you want the Vikings to pick a wide receiver next week, with the plan for that man to contribute sooner rather than later, but Boston isn’t quite the guy, then the draft list looks like this with one week to go:

• Makai Lemon (USC | R1)
• Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State | R1)
• Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana | R1)
• Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M | R1)
• Chris Bell (Louisville | R2)
• Chris Brazzell (Tennessee | R2)
• Germie Bernard (Alabama | R2)
• Zachariah Branch (Georgia | R2)
• Antonio Williams (Clemson | R3)
• Malachi Fields (Notre Dame | R3)
• Elijah Sarratt (Indiana | R3)
• Ted Hurst (Georgia State | R3)
• Skyler Bell (UConn | R3)
• Bryce Lance (North Dakota State | R3)
• Deion Burks (Oklahoma | R3)
• Ja’Kobi Lane (USC | R4)
• Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State | R4)
• De’Zhaun Stribling (Mississippi | R4)

The Vikings have reportedly met with Williams, Hurst, and Stribling.

Boston will turn 23 in December.