The season-opener to the 2023 season was going about as well as one could hope for the Patriots.
New England was driving with a chance to win the game, trailing by five points in the fourth quarter. The Patriots overcame an early deficit and were standing toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring with the defending NFC Champion Eagles. Quarterback Mac Jones had thrown for 316 passing yards and three touchdowns to that point, a promising performance.
With the Patriots on the Philly 20-yard line, New England faced a 4th-and-11 on a do-or-die down with the game on the line. Jones dropped back and threw a pass at the sticks to rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte, who ran a good route to get open. However, Boutte could not get his second foot in bounds, and the pass was ruled incomplete, effectively ending the game with a 25-20 loss to the Eagles at Gillette Stadium.
After narrowly failing to convert a critical fourth down, Boutte didn’t play again in his rookie season until Week 10 – eight straight games as a healthy scratch.
Boutte’s early-career adversity in the NFL was nothing new for the sixth-round pick. The New Iberia, Louisiana native was a five-star high school recruit who stayed in-state to attend LSU. Following a breakout freshman season for the Tigers, Boutte was considered a first-round talent. However, he suffered a severe ankle injury during his sophomore year, derailing his college career. He then fell to the 187th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and struggled early with the Patriots. At one point, Boutte was in offseason trade rumors, adding another layer to his early pro struggles.
Despite those trials and tribulations, Boutte persevered to carve out a role as the Patriots starting “X” receiver. Over the first six weeks this season, he has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL on a per-target basis. Boutte leads all qualified receivers in expected points added per target (+0.97) and has the best catch rate over expectation of any pass-catcher in the NFL (+25.2%). In all, Boutte has caught 18 of his 23 targets for 301 yards and three touchdowns — an 850-yard pace over a 17-game season.
Speaking to reporters after his two-touchdown performance in his home state of Louisiana last week, Boutte reflected on his football journey.
“I would say three-four years ago I wasn’t in the best position, a lot of off the field stuff. I look at myself like I have been through a lot, and I feel like I am finally getting back together and everything is becoming good. I feel like it’s good to beat the adversity and just keep working,” Boutte said.
Boutte has shown impressive growth and has become a rock-solid pro. Earlier this week, the Pats wideout added that it was important for him to embrace adversity.
“I feel like there’s nothing wrong with a little adversity. Everybody goes through it in life; everybody’s situation is different, honestly. It’s really about how you come out the other side,” Boutte told Patriots.com. “A good thing about it is you get to determine the outcome. So I mean, just kind of take it and run with it. It was good to watch the growth. I noticed it, too. It’s a great feeling.”
Along with maturing as a professional, Boutte has improved his play on the field. As a prospect, most expected Boutte to play a flanker role with more snaps inside the slot. Instead, the Pats wideout has become a true “X” receiver and is thriving as an outside vertical threat. This season, Boutte ranks fourth in average air yards per target (15.9) and sixth in yards per catch (16.7), playing 90.4% of his snaps out wide.
Looking at Boutte’s recent film, his ability to win on a vertical route tree shines. For example, Boutte has caught seven of his eight go route targets for 140 yards and two of his three touchdowns.