Re-grading the Patriots 2023 NFL Draft class after one season

4 of 5

Round 6, Pick No. 187 - WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU

When the Patriots finally selected a wide receiver, waiting until the sixth round to do so, who they picked brought a bit of excitement. Kayshon Boutte had previously been projected as a first round player, but a weak final season at LSU significantly dropped his value, hence falling to the sixth round.

It was immediately deemed a potential steal of the draft for New England, with Boutte having all the potential in the world to get back to the player he had once been. Considering the position the team was in with their offense, desperately needing a boost from a great receiver, this was great news for Belichick.

After taking a backseat to DeMario Douglas during the summer, Boutte eventually brought the focus back to him as he impressed leading up to the season opener. He was given time in that first game against the Eagles, but ill-timed drops made a bad first impression.

The rest of the season didn't get much better. At the end of the year, he recorded just two receptions for 19 yards, an incredibly underwhelming performance.

Some of it can be blamed for the overall mess that the offense was, starting from the struggles at quarterback. But Boutte also just never got into a groove to make a real impact.

Heading into the 2024 season, it's unclear if he will make the final 53-man roster due to legal troubles he got into earlier this year. Regardless of how the situation turns out, it could ultimately lead to his release, which would make him a potential draft-bust candidate for New England.

Grade: C-

Round 6, Pick No. 192 - P Bryce Baringer, Michigan State

After the downfall of Jake Bailey and a suspension that led to his release, the Patriots needed a competent punter who would be less of a liability and more of a reliable special teams weapon.

Fortunately, they found that in the sixth round when Bryce Baringer was selected.

Unlike the issues that Ryland brought to the team through his struggles, Baringer made a difference on game day in the opposite way. He proved to have one of the strongest legs in the league, consistently nearly punting footballs out of stadiums in pre-game warmups. His consistency often put the defense in a better position to have a successful drive against the opposing offense.

Through 17 games, he recorded 98 punts totaling 4,598 yards, averaging 46.9 yards per punt. He allowed just eight touchbacks while landing 38 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. None of his punts were blocked, a significant upgrade from the season before, and Baringer became one of the most reliable players on the entire team.

How crazy is that to say out loud?

Grade: A

Home/Patriots Roster