The Patriots were driving down five points late in the fourth quarter of their 2023 season-opener against the defending NFC champions.
New England was attempting to come back from a 16-point deficit but was now in a do-or-die situation. With 29 seconds remaining, the Patriots faced a 4th-and-11 at the Philly 20-yard line, trailing 25-20. Former QB Mac Jones threw a pass to the sticks into the left sideline. Then-rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte's right foot was in bounds, but his left foot came down on the white chalk. Following a review, the play was ruled incomplete and the comeback bid fell short in a loss to the Eagles.
After failing to get his feet in bounds with the game on the line, Boutte was inactive for eight straight games. The 2023 sixth-rounder was only active for four more games, finishing his rookie season with just two catches for 19 yards. Heading into his second season, the 22-year-old vowed never to have the same experience again. Boutte was benched for failing to get his left foot in bounds and then couldn't get back into the rotation, so he knew something had to change for him to blossom.
"Last year, as well know, got sidelined after the first game, Eagles, with Bill Belichick. Just coming back this season, I sat with Coach Mayo and was just like, 'I refuse to go through the same [expletive] I did last year," Boutte told Patriots.com this week. "My mindset shifted knowing that I want to be on the field, one of those top players."
"Practicing harder. Just the way I approach the day every day. Don't look at it as another day just to do it. It's an opportunity. Not everybody gets to be here. I look at it like I'm blessed," Boutte said.
From the outset of training camp, Boutte's teammates noticed his preparation was different. The Pats wideout started practicing harder, he knew the details of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's playbook, and began getting into third-overall pick Drake Maye's circle of trust. Boutte, along with rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, were Maye's primary receivers for most of camp, laying a foundation in the summer.
"He's so locked in," said veteran teammate Kendrick Bourne of Boutte. "He knows the playbook really well. He's impressive when he's answering questions in the meeting. We're always competing, and he's answering questions fast. When coach asks what do we got on this, he's answering, he knows everybody's routes, and that's just things that he's built on."
Seven games into his second season, Boutte's numbers don't jump out at you. However, he's making the most of his opportunities, and his playing time is increasing. The second-year wideout leads all Patriots receivers in snaps since Week 5 (145). Among 117 receivers, Boutte also leads all NFL receivers in expected points added per target (+1.07). He has caught all three deep balls thrown his way and is the Pats best receiver at defeating press coverage.
Boutte has caught five of seven of his targets against press coverage for 101 yards and a touchdown this season. He's quickly emerging as the Patriots best pure outside receiver, aligning in a wide split on 83.7% of his routes. New England has been searching for a vertical threat on the outside for a while now, and Boutte has made some plays in that role.
"He has a knack for separating in man coverage," said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. "Obviously, he can go deep, you saw that in the game the other day, and then his ball skills. He catches the ball very cleanly, you know, can't remember a drop he's had in our time together so very good with ball skills and creating separation at the top of the route."
"His work ethic changed. He started putting the time in, and it's paid off for him," Van Pelt continued.
To tell Boutte's story, we also must go back to his journey at LSU. During his freshman season, Boutte was a Freshman All-SEC selection, leading the Tigers with 735 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Based on his early-career breakout, the Louisiana native was viewed as the next great receiver in Baton Rouge, a school that has quite the history of stellar wide receivers like Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and now first-year wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Unfortunately, Boutte's college career was derailed by a severe ankle fracture that he suffered in his seventh game during his sophomore season. After returning from the season-ending injury, Boutte wasn't as effective as a true junior, finishing his final season at LSU with 48 catches for 538 yards. Then, he went to the NFL Scouting Combine and ran a disappointing 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Once viewed as an explosive big-play athlete, Boutte registered a 4.95 relative athletic score out of 10, ranking middle of the pack at the position in his athletic testing.
Between his collegiate career being stunted by an injury and a disappointing combine, Boutte went from a potential first-round pick to a day-three selection (no. 187 overall). However, the talent was always there if he could recapture the magic from early in his LSU days.
Although it's premature to say he's a difference-maker, Boutte has certainly caught the eye of late. Mainly, he has connected in back-to-back weeks with Maye on a 40-yard touchdown and a 33-yard catch last Sunday vs. the Jaguars. He has also shown well as a run blocker, specifically blocking downfield on lead-back Rhamondre Stevenson's 33-yard touchdown run in the Patriots loss to the Dolphins in Week 5.
Boutte told Patriots.com the secret to his success on go routes. Plus, he also spoke about building chemistry with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
In Maye's first career start, Boutte's 40-yard touchdown catch before halftime was terrific. The Pats ran a 989-style concept where they paired two go routes on the outside with an inside crosser/post by DeMario Douglas. With the safety on the other side of the field, Maye decided to attack single coverage on the outside. The Pats wideout then separated late from former college teammate Derek Stingley Jr. to run underneath Maye's perfectly thrown deep ball in the end zone.
One week later, Boutte and Maye did it again. This time, New England was running a stick concept with Boutte clearing out the sideline for Douglas. But, when Maye saw the safety rotate away from Boutte, he took a shot downfield and again threw a dime to Boutte. In both instances, you see Boutte pull away from the defender while the ball is in the air, which he explained is something that he believes makes him an effective vertical threat.
"When a go ball is in there, you're side to side with the cornerback. He is always trying to get his hands on you. I feel like one thing I do a good job of is hitting his hands. So once you hit his hands, it turns his hips, and it slows him down, which makes me accelerate," Boutte said.
By avoiding contact downfield when corners try to get their hands on Boutte, his hand-fighting essentially allows him to slingshot himself past the defender. He also shows excellent hands to make catches away from his frame when Maye drops it in the bucket.
"Honestly, working. Like I say, working day in and day out. Whether it's the jugs machine, routes with the quarterbacks, and just building confidence in being able to catch the ball and get open," Boutte said of his strong hands. "It's your quarterback trusting you. When y'all work day in and day out, he got that trust that you're going to be down there and make that play. As it continues to happen, the more confident you're going to be."
"Since Drake came in, we've been working. Safe to say that it's paying off on the field," Boutte continued.
Over the last two weeks, the Patriots passing offense has improved with the third-overall pick as the starting quarterback. In their first five games, New England was 29th in expected points added per drop-back (-0.19). Since the rookie became the starter, the Pats are taking baby steps, improving to 21st in EPA per pass play (-0.01). This past week, Maye was 12th among 35 quarterbacks by adding +0.20 EPA per drop-back.
Although it hasn't been perfect, Maye has given the Patriots offense a spark, and Boutte is becoming his go-to deep threat. For Boutte, the arrow is pointing upward again after a long, windy path to this point. He went from being "next" at LSU as a freshman phenom to a career-altering injury that tanked his draft stock to benched in his rookie season.
As a perfect example of hard work working, Boutte has played himself into a role this season.
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