Game-changing wide receivers have evaded being signed by the Patriots for as long as most can remember, and it was clear that pattern needed to end going into the 2025 season. Mike Vrabel was very aware of that, and that explains why they chose to sign Stefon Diggs in free agency.
His addition to the offensive roster had many fans excited, as Drake Maye would finally have the caliber of weapon that could immediately elevate their performance on day one. There were some concerns that Diggs was the right guy for the job since he suffered an ACL injury during the 2024 season, but he was cleared to go for their game on Sunday and didn't appear to have any setbacks.
That didn't mean, however, that he was given many opportunities to contribute. Although that was somewhat expected because he can be a lethal pass catcher, it was more surprising to see another receiver seemingly rise to the top in Diggs' place.
There was a lot of hype around DeMario Douglas going into the season opener, but it was Kayshon Boutte who appears to have become Maye's favorite weapon and potentially his next WR1.
Kayshon Boutte becoming the Patriots' most reliable receiver was not expected going into Week 1
Drake Maye ---> Kayshon Boutte pic.twitter.com/iOrbeWheXw
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) September 7, 2025
One of the more unexpected parts of the Patriots' Week 1 loss was the rise of Boutte, who had seamless chemistry with Maye that led to the receiver recording the second-best game of his NFL career.
Because the offense was shaky for most of the game, Boutte's reliability became the most consistent part of Maye's performance, as he led all pass catchers on the day with an impressive performance, even if he wasn't able to get into the endzone for a score.
Did Kayshon Boutte solidify himself as the #Patriots WR1? pic.twitter.com/ZZZgPV3ujP
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) September 7, 2025
It might be presumptuous to suggest that Boutte is the WR1 the offense has needed, but he sure played like one on Sunday.
Diggs will inevitably become more integrated into the game plan as the weeks progress, and there will be more chances for Maye to take advantage of his presence when defenses aren't double-covering him, so there's no concern about him still fulfilling the role he was brought in to fill.
However, if Boutte can exceed expectations and become another viable option, then the Patriots' receiving corps is a lot better off than they initially were, and that's without seeing what explosive UDFA Efton Chism III and rookie Kyle Williams can do once they take the field.