ESPN’s Mike Greenberg Sparks Confusion Over Draft Pick’s Parentage

You know how assumptions can trip us up sometimes.

During ESPN’s coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft, Mike Greenberg made a noteworthy comment about Denzel Boston, a second-round pick for the Browns, noting his connection to former Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston. It felt like a reasonable leap given that they both have similar physical attributes, a 25-year age gap, and both played at prominent Division I schools—Ohio State and Washington State.

But here’s the catch: they aren’t related in any way.

“You might recall that his father, David Boston, was a first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999,” Greenberg mentioned while sharing Denzel’s stats and standout quotes.

This mix-up was quickly highlighted on Twitter, with one user pointing out, “You may remember that his father, David Boston, was a first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999.” However, they noted, “Denzel Boston is not David Boston’s son, and they are not related.”

The actual father of Denzel is named Chris Boston, who seemed to be present during the draft event in Pittsburgh.

Social media had quite a field day with Greenberg’s slip. One user asked, “Why didn’t you double-check that?” while another expressed nostalgia for ESPN’s older draft coverage, saying they now preferred the NFL Network instead.

This wasn’t Greenberg’s only faux pas of the week. On the draft’s opening day, he was unaware that the Dolphins had traded their 27th pick to select cornerback Chris Johnson from San Diego State. The picks originally belonged to the 49ers, who had made a deal with Miami involving multiple selections.

Denzel, at the NFL Combine, stood about 6-foot-4 and weighed in at 212 pounds. Throughout his time at Washington, he managed over 60 receptions and 800 receiving yards in his last two seasons, amassing 20 touchdowns and earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Third Team in 2025.

David Boston’s NFL career spanned from 1999 to 2007, during which he played for the Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His standout season came in 2001 when he led the NFL with 98 receptions, 1,598 yards, and earned both All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He wrapped up his career with 315 receptions, totaling 4,699 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.