Bill Belichick was known for a lot of things throughout his NFL career, but drafting good wide receivers was not one of them. That became a prominent part of his legacy later in his Patriots tenure after passing on notable players like A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf for N'Keal Harris in 2019 and trading up for Tyquan Thornton in 2022.
Fortunately, he was much luckier with his selections in the later rounds, most notably Julian Edelman, but he didn't always give some deserving players a chance to show what they could do. That is the case with 2023 sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte, a highly regarded receiver who was once considered a first-round prospect.
A chaotic final season at LSU led to his value significantly dropping ahead of the draft, allowing the Patriots to select him in the sixth round, only for Belichick to write him off before allowing him to develop during his rookie season.
He recorded just two catches on seven targets for 19 yards that season, primarily due to an unfortunate outing in the season's first game that landed him in Belichick's doghouse. Fortunately for Boutte, a standout 2024 season has him becoming a prominent fixture of the Patriots' offense for the season ahead.
Kayshon Boutte continues to show exactly why he was once considered a first round prospect
Among the list of players who have stood out for all the right reasons at training camp so far is Boutte, who seems to have already secured himself a spot on the 2025 roster well ahead of many of his wide receiver teammates.
That's already becoming a big takeaway by some of the most respected Patriots reporters, like MassLive's Karen Guregian, who detailed Boutte's recent rise and the potential he has to become a go-to weapon for Drake Maye this fall.
"At the outset, it was hard imagining Kayshon Boutte being a slam-dunk to make the team. After nine practices, he sure looks like one.
While it makes sense given he’s their best option as an ‘X’ receiver, Boutte has made a noticeable leap from previous years. He’s been a reliable option for Drake Maye, who he showed some chemistry with last year, and has basically done everything he’s been asked to do.
He’s shown an ability to make big plays on a consistent basis. Unlike Javon Baker, makes a spectacular play one minute, and a head-scratcher the next, Boutte has been a steady customer."
Given the wide open wide receiver roster beyond Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Williams, it's fair to assume that Boutte could easily be the next player to lock up a spot on the Patriots roster this summer.
He continues to prove his worth nearly every day in practice, as he remains a constant for Maye and builds upon the chemistry they clearly developed throughout last season. They must build upon that foundation, as Guergian stated that Boutte could become the team's next x-receiver, and maybe he could put up an even better season than he did last year when recording 43 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns.
If they can accomplish that over the next month, then Boutte might be the next late-round star in the Patriots offense. It would be a fun tradition to keep going in New England, too.