When NFL players tend to have the same surname, mistakes are bound to happen. On Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, a commentary about a second-round pick went wrong which surprised fans.

As the Cleveland Browns picked wide receiver Denzel Boston from the University of Washington with the 39th overall pick, ESPN broadcaster Mike Greenberg tried to add some family history to the moment. 

"You remember his dad, David Boston, first-round pick out of Ohio State in 1999," he said with confidence.

However, this was a major factual inaccuracy. While David Boston was a star wide receiver for teams like the Chargers and Dolphins, he has no relation to Denzel Boston. 

The two athletes simply share a surname and a position on the field. Recognizing the slip-up, Greenberg went on to issue a sincere correction after two hours.

"I was waiting for them to come around again so that I could make an apology to Denzel Boston, who, earlier tonight, I misidentified as being the son of former NFL wide receiver David Boston," Greenberg said. "It was a mistake in my research. It was a terrible one, and I apologize to them both. They are not related to each other."

"And so, I apologize to both David and Denzel Boston, and congratulations to Denzel for being drafted in the second round tonight by the Cleveland Browns. It is my mistake, and I apologize for it," Greenberg stated. 

Fans quickly noticed the mistake and shared it online. Even though the broadcast host got the facts wrong, the Browns are happy to draft Denzel to their team. 

Browns VP 'Excited' To Have Boston

The Cleveland Browns added much-needed depth in their wide receiver room with Boston, alongside first-rounder KC Concepcion. Browns' VP of player personnel and assistant GM, Glenn Cook, had high praise for Boston.

“We think a lot about Denzel’s talent and his ability. I think a lot of teams probably had him with the first-round grade or really high up. So, you know, we’re just excited that we had the chance to still get him where we were sitting at,” Cook said.

During his collegiate career with the Washington Huskies, Boston recorded 20 touchdowns over his last two seasons and racked up 881 yards in 12 games in 2025 alone. 

Having played alongside now NFL stars in college, he is well-prepared for the professional level. Boston's impressive stats and size make him a valuable new asset for the Cleveland offense. 

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Rishab Nandi