Kayshon Boutte reflects on his forgotten history as an elite prospect

FOXBOROUGH — Kayshon Boutte did not receive much fanfare when the Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but there was a time when draft evaluators were heralding him as a potential first-round pick.

He was the No. 3 wide receiver prospect in the nation during his senior year of high school, according to both 247Sports and ESPN. He was a consensus top-40 recruit and some even had him in the top-20.

One such scouting report, which projected him as an early-round pick, listed his player comparison as none other than current Patriots teammate Stefon Diggs, who is a four-time Pro Bowler. Boutte was the fastest receiver in LSU history to reach 100 career catches, eclipsing the mark in 21 games.

So, Boutte’s breakout performance the Patriots’ season opener [six catches for 103 yards and five first-downs on eight targets] may be a surprise to many in New England, but not to those whose were familiar with him during his time in Louisiana.

An ankle injury derailed Boutte’s sophomore season at LSU and required a pair of surgeries to repair. He missed all but six games that year. Boutte returned for his junior season and played in all 11 games, but was unable to replicate the production [735 yards, five touchdowns] that he had as a freshman.

It may have hurt his draft stock, but it never shook his belief in himself.

“I think people fail to realize that at one point in time I was [projected as] as first-round pick, just before my surgery,” Boutte said. “So, I think a lot of people doubt that I can do what I do but I always knew what I can do. To some people, it is a surprise, but to me it’s just always what I used to do.”

Boutte had a strong preseason, establishing himself along with Diggs and DeMario Douglas at the top of New England’s depth chart at the receiver position. He was buried at the bottom of the depth chart as a rookie and grew into one of New England’s most productive receivers last year.

“A lot of positives there,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “I think his comfort level in us, everybody and what we’re doing, and I would say his professionalism, the way he came in, prepared and knew a lot of spots, played a bunch of different positions in camp, which gave him a really good role, which then grew.

“I think the quarterback trusts him. I think he’s got good play strength at the top of the route. So, just looking forward to continue to improve and happy for him that he’s been able to have success from the spring to now.”

Quarterback Josh Dobbs said Boutte’s attention to detail and eagerness to get extra reps in after practice went a long way towards earning that trust.

“He does a good job winning one-on-one matchups, like he’s obviously back side of a lot of concepts with the position that he plays, so he’s going to get matched up 1-on-1,” Dobbs said. “He does a good job of running good routes and it showed up [Sunday]. He put in a ton of work throughout the offseason just getting into a rhythm with myself and Drake [Maye] and it’s good because we’re going to need those 1-on-1 matchups all season.”

The third-year receiver said he still views himself as a first-round pick even though things did not go the way he had hoped on draft night. He still made it to the NFL, and he’s not afraid to remind folks that his recent success is closer to a resurgence than a new development.

“We’re in the NFL now, so the picks don’t matter,” Boutte said. “It’s all about competition. It’s even skills.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.