When looking back on the 2023 NFL draft, one of these days, we might be wondering why teams didn’t select LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte earlier.
There’s a legitimate chance that the New England Patriots got the steal of the draft by having the former Tiger drop to them in the sixth round. That’s obviously a bold statement, and Boutte has plenty of work ahead of him to prove it to be true.
But the talent is clearly there for him to do it.
He has the speed to create separation consistently, and he’s a home run threat with the ball in his hands. The Patriots were hoping for insanely good value when they took his name off the board on Saturday, and they might get everything they wanted and more.
Here are the three reasons why opposing teams might regret passing on a chance to draft Boutte:
1
The talent is undeniable
No one is questioning Boutte’s talent. It’s all about him buying into the coaching and putting things together consistently.
Keep in mind, this is a receiver that hauled in 45 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie for an LSU Tiger team transitioning from Heisman quarterback Joe Burrow to a combination of Max Johnson, Myles Brennan and TJ Finley.
Even when he injured his right ankle in the 2021 season, he was on his way towards another strong year with 509 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He then fell off a cliff in his final year under coach Brian Kelly.
A healthy and focused Boutte has the potential to take flight in the NFL.
2
Boutte's best game came against Georgia last season
When the lights were the brightest, Boutte had his best game of the year last season against a Georgia Bulldogs team that had the top defense in the country.
He racked up six receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown when standing toe-to-toe with coach Kirby Smart’s juggernaut defense in the SEC Championship.
And he didn’t even flinch.
That game alone teased Boutte’s high ceiling and potential. Granted, it wasn’t enough to save him from falling on the draft board, but teams could regret passing him up when it’s all said and done.
3
Patriots are notorious for restoration projects
Few teams do as well of a job as the Patriots at turning careers around. Make no mistake, they’re going to push Boutte, but they’re also going to take advantage of what he does best. With Bill O’Brien overseeing the offense, the rookie receiver will be put in a position to succeed.
There is also plenty of veteran talent on the roster to help along the way. One has to believe being selected in the sixth round for a player that was once believed to be a first-round talent is plenty of motivation to encourage a turnaround.
This is Boutte’s opportunity to remind the world why they were originally enamored with his explosive playmaking abilities on the field. He’s electric with the ball in his hands, and if he puts in the work behind the scenes, he’s going to get his opportunity.
