Since Julian Edelman chose to retire after the 2020 season, the Patriots have struggled to find reliable receivers for their quarterbacks to work with. That's a big reason Mike Vrabel prioritized boosting the position in free agency and the draft, especially since the expectations for Drake Maye's second season were sky high.
It led them to sign Stefon Diggs, despite coming off a season-ending ACL injury, to become the offense's go-to pass catcher. That has worked incredibly well so far, along with the rise of Kayshon Boutte, who is competing with the veteran for that coveted WR1 spot.
The 23-year-old had a standout second season in 2024 and propelled himself to the top of the depth chart going into the new year with Maye. He has impressed with his production so far, recording 20 receptions for 356 yards and four touchdowns through the first seven games.
He has become reliable no matter how he's used or what route he's running, which has been a massive plus for a developing offense. But Boutte has also been breaking records from the days of the dynasty with his performances, making each and every game that much more impressive.
Kayshon Boutte has already solidified himself in Patriots' history with his 2025 performance
After another inspiring performance in Week 7 against the Titans, where he totaled two catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, Boutte officially made Patriots history by becoming the first receiver since Chris Hogan in 2017 to record 20 receptions, 350 yards, and four scores through the first seven games of the year.
WR @KayshonBoutte1 is the first @Patriots WR since @ChrisHogan_15 (2017) to record 350 receiving yards, 20 receptions, and 4 receiving TDs for the team through the first seven games of the season.#NEPats pic.twitter.com/C1M0eNjobb
— Patriots Communications (@PatriotsComms) October 20, 2025
Although his stat line won't be considered among the best in the league, Boutte has proven his value to the Patriots and built trust with Maye that could make them a dynamic duo for years to come.
His growth and reliability at the position have come leaps and bounds since he was drafted in the sixth round in 2023, after initially being considered a first-round pick the year before. He's shown the traits that scouts believed would make him one of the best in the previous draft class, and the Patriots are benefiting every week.
At the rate he's going, it's possible he could become Maye's top receiver over Diggs in no time, but regardless, the fact that the quarterback has two quality options on game day has proven to be invaluable for the offense, and it will be exciting to see where they go from here.