Cleveland Browns sign WR Denzel Boston

The Cleveland Browns' signing of Denzel Boston earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a fair valuation that reflects modest upside constrained by execution risk in a rebuilding context. At $3.1M AAV on a four-year, $12.4M deal, the contract is structured as a low-cost flyer on a young receiver with clear opportunity—the kind of deal that works only if Boston justifies the optimistic media narrative about his role. The salary commitment is negligible relative to cap pressure, giving the Browns flexibility to pivot if production doesn't materialize, but the four-year term suggests organizational confidence in his development trajectory that isn't yet supported by NFL performance data. CVI reflects the classic tension in this spot: a talented prospect getting franchise-level runway at bargain pricing, but with no statistical track record to validate the investment. For a team sitting at 5-12, acquiring depth at receiver on a prove-it deal makes roster construction sense, though the value hinges entirely on whether Boston can translate opportunity into consistent production during a competitive rebuild. This grades as a controlled-risk transaction—low commitment, reasonable ceiling, minimal downside exposure.