New Patriots rookie ‘motivated’ by self-inflicted draft fall
The Pats picked up a boom-or-bust participant in wideout Kayshon Boutte, who is able to show all his haters unsuitable.
New England Patriots large receiver Kayshon Boutte has fallen far down the pedestal.
As soon as hailed as a viable first-round decide, Boutte tumbled all the best way to the sixth spherical and was chosen by the Pats with the 187th choice. Boutte’s landslide may very well be attributed to quite a lot of components from his ankle damage to coachability points to work ethic issues; in any case, he dropped down the board and was finally scooped up by New England.
Invoice Belichick and Co. might but be capable of flip Boutte right into a starting-caliber wideout in Yr 1, and Boutte may even get slightly additional motivation from the truth that so many different groups handed on him through the draft.
Boutte saying that he’s “most likely” extra motivated than ever doesn’t actually assist his case, as it might have been a a lot better look if he had been extra sure about his intentions. The trouble is usually there.
Pats WR Kayshon Boutte will enter 2023 with a large chip on his shoulder
Characterised as primarily a slot man, Boutte recorded 48 catches for 538 yards and two touchdowns in 11 video games for LSU final season, an underwhelming stat line for somebody who was as soon as the second-ranked receiver within the 2020 recruiting class and hailed as the following Ja’Marr Chase.
Previous to the 2022 season, Boutte suffered an ankle damage which required two surgical procedures to heal; Boutte himself admitted he may have executed “better” all through the rehab course of.
Boutte additionally didn’t take a look at nicely on the mix and waded via a troublesome pre-draft course of, turning himself from a possible first-rounder right into a imprecise and unknown thriller.
The Pats determined to take the gamble on him, and their religion coupled with Boutte’s renewed motivation might get him again on observe to changing into a promising receiver and useful role-player. His rookie atmosphere isn’t precisely perfect — he’ll be catching balls from both Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe, his greatest position mannequin on the group is arguably JuJu Smith-Schuster, and he’ll be up in opposition to some lockdown defenses within the AFC East.
New England had 4 sixth-round picks to spare on this draft, so if Boutte seems to be a bust, the group gained’t shed too many tears. The NFL nonetheless represents a clear slate for gamers like Boutte who might have made errant decisions prior to now, and such alternatives shouldn’t be squandered.
