Kayshon Boutte began New England Patriots training camp battling for a roster spot. Through six practices, the third-year wide receiver has made a strong case for a key role in the offense.
Boutte has been among the most impressive pass-catchers in Pats camp to this point. NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry raved about the 2023 sixth-round draft pick after Monday’s practice, and they did so again after Tuesday’s pass-heavy session.
Curran believes Boutte has the skill set to emerge as a go-to option for quarterback Drake Maye this season. He hopes veteran Stefon Diggs can serve as a mentor for the 23-year-old.
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“He has the best body control of the group,” Curran said during Tuesday’s Early Edition. “He’s had some issues in games with hands. But to me, body control, hands, confidence, and the ability to be a bigger, stronger receiver than anybody else they have in that room. Those are all things I think are part of his makeup.
“And to me, the biggest thing that he has to conquer is being a professional and not feeling as if he has the answers. Hopefully, he’s in a position where Stefon Diggs can look at him and say, ‘You’re a sixth-round pick, I was a fifth-round pick. You’re talented, I was talented. To tap it, you have to approach this game a certain way.’ But I think Boutte’s a good player.”
Boutte continued to stand out as one of the most consistent players in the passing game on Tuesday. Perry, however, was even more impressed with how the LSU product stepped up as a blocker.
“People will point to the last play of the day for Drake Maye in 11-on-11, close to the goal line in that low red-zone area, fires a bullet along the back end line to Kayshon Boutte for the touchdown. He was able to get both feet inbounds to finish the day strongly for the top offense,” Perry said.
“But my favorite parts of the day from Kayshon Boutte were blocking. You’ve got a gritty, grimey Kayshon Boutte today, whether it’s blocking in the running game or blocking for Pop Douglas in the screen game. Those are the types of moments that I think Mike Vrabel will see and say, ‘Yeah, this guy’s on the right track.'”
A Boutte breakout campaign would be huge for a Patriots offense that has struggled to push the ball downfield in recent years. Boutte tallied 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season.
