Pats have given fans some reasons to feel good this offseason
Patriots fans are borderline desperate for a spark, a true weapon on offense who adds excitement and the much needed firepower the team lacked last season. Perhaps the team found him in the draft, and if so he will potentially be the steal of the draft. And he’s just become the first member of the 2023 draft class to sign his deal.
According to reports, Kayshon Boutte, the wide receiver out of LSU the Patriots selected in the sixth round, 187th overall, has signed a four-year deal with the Patriots worth just over $4 million, with a signing bonus just under $200,000. The sixth round represents a crap shoot, true boom-or-bust territory usually, with an uphill battle for players to make the roster, let alone start. Yet optimism seems to be pouring in locally and nationally for Boutte, who was once thought to be a lock for a high draft pick, yet saw his stock tumble over the past 18 months.
Injuries seem to have derailed his draft stock as he was on his way to a big season in 2021 (38 receptions for 509 yards and 9 TDs in six games) before breaking his ankle. He also claimed to be injured (broken bone in his foot) at the NFL Combine, where he didn’t showcase his talents too well. But the potential is there, as Boutte reached 100 receptions faster than any LSU receiver ever…and there have been some pretty impressive ones in the past decade alone (Odell Beckham, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase).
If – and as Joe Namath said famously, “Such a big word for only two letters” – IF Boutte can get healthy, return to form and fit in the new Bill O’Brien offense, he may find himself a role on an offense in need of playmakers. Danny Kelly of The Ringer recently said Boutte could be “an explosive version of JuJu Smith-Schuster”. That’s some good hype right there, which is what Boutte represents right now. If he avoids injuries and has a great camp he may represent one of the steals of the draft. Time will tell.
For the latest on the New England Patriots, their 2023 draft class and more, stay tuned to 93.7 FM WEEI, WEEI.com and The Six Rings & Football Things podcast.
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