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Steelers Host Projected 1st-Round WR Along With Penn Hills Product

The Pittsburgh Steelers will begin their offseason workouts Tuesday. They will also continue their pre-draft visits.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko reported the Steelers will have three more pre-draft visits Tuesday. The Steelers will host Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Florida State defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, and Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger.

As a Penn Hills High School alum, Dugger will be considered a local visitor.

Batko’s colleague at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo, and ESPN’s Brooke Pryor also reported the visits on social media.

The consensus around Boston’s NFL draft stock is he will be a late first-round choice on April 23. In his 2026 NFL mock draft released Tuesday, ESPN’s Peter Schrager predicted Boston to come off the board at No. 23 overall.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared the Washington receiver to Los Angeles Rams star wideout Puka Nacua.

“A Puka Nacua comparison might feel strong, but like Nacua, Boston enters the draft with speed/separation concerns and outstanding competitive toughness,” wrote Zierlein. “Acclimating to NFL competition could take a year, but Boston has the makeup to become a productive possession target with above-average red-zone value.”


Steelers Host Denzel Boston, Darrell Jackson for Pre-Draft Top 30 Visits

GettyThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko reported the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted three pre-draft visits Tuesday, including one with Washington wideout Denzel Boston.

Boston is one of the more notable prospects the Steelers have hosted during the 2026 NFL Draft process.

On Tuesday, Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle reported cornerback Chris Johnson and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez are the only other two potential first-round picks the team has hosted this spring.

Boston eclipsed the 830-yard mark each of the past two seasons at Washington. He also had at least nine touchdowns during 2024 and 2025.

Last season, Boston posted a career-high 881 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Jackson the No. 7 defensive tackle in the 2026 draft class. Other draft analysts, though, aren’t as high on Jackson.

Zierlein identified the Florida State product’s ceiling as an above-average backup.

“While he’s an enormous interior presence with impressive physical features, Jackson’s inconsistencies are partially rooted in flawed fundamentals and technique,” wrote Zierlein. “The tape is uneven with a floor of average backup, but Jackson’s size and length could be considered unmined gold by some teams.”


Penn Hills Product Jaden Dugger Also Visits

GettyGeneral manager Omar Khan and the Pittsburgh Steelers will host three prospects for visits Tuesday.

Every NFL team can host 30 pre-draft visitors. But local visits do not count toward the 30 maximum.

Even though Dugger played college at Louisiana, he is a local visitor.

“He was an All-Conference selection in 2020 and 2021 at Penn Hills and played both football and basketball before spending his first two college seasons at Georgetown as a defensive back,” wrote McCorkle.

“He told our Josh Carney at the Shrine Bowl that he models his game after Steelers ILB Payton Wilson.”

Dugger is a candidate to join an NFL club as an undrafted free agent. He could also be a late Day 3 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

With Boston and Jackson added, the Steelers have hosted 17 pre-draft visitors this spring. Including Dugger, they have also had three local visitors.

Pittsburgh will host the 2026 NFL Draft in two and a half weeks. The first round will take place on Thursday, April 23.

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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports


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