LSU WR Kayshon Boutte picked in Round 6 of 2023 NFL Draft
LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 187 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Boutte was taken in the sixth round, a far fall from mock drafts a year ago that slotted him as a potential first round pick.
Boutte was one of the most talked about figures in LSU football over the past three years, coming out of New Iberia as a top 30 player in the country and a five-star player. As a freshman, Boutte immediately put the SEC on notice. After having a solid start to his 2020 season, Boutte exploded for 527 yards in the final three games of the season, including a record-breaking game against Ole Miss where he totaled 308 yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches.
Boutte continued his run into his sophomore season, racking up 509 yards and nine touchdowns on 38 catches in just six games before an ankle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
By his own admission, the subsequent rehab was rushed and not done properly, extending his injury into the summer before his junior year. Entering the 2022 season, Boutte even admitted he was still thinking of his injury while playing. It was a tall mental hurdle.
The junior season started shaky, but eventually, he settled in for a decent season with 538 yards and two touchdowns on 48 catches in 11 games.
Testing results
Ultimately, his stock was decided by his testing numbers, though. In both the NFL Combine and the LSU Pro Day, Boutte wasn’t able to show that he had returned to his 2020 or 2021 form. He clocked a 4.50 40-yard dash time, had a 29-inch vertical, and a 9’10” broad jump, ultimately placing him among the bottom group of the receivers in the draft in terms of athleticism.
NFL teams would be hoping for a return to his prior form if they took him.
“I love football, so that’s always been my motivation, but recently, my girlfriend had a baby and he’s five months old now, so that’s my new motivation,” Boutte said at the combine. “I describe my game as a hard working player. Anything you need me to do I’m going to do. As a player, I have a lot of speed and it puts a lot of stress on the defender and opens up the underneath routes. I’ve been through three different offensive coordinators, so I’ve been through three different schemes. I’ve played outside and inside. I see myself as an outside receiver with my speed and how I can get in and out of breaks.”
The 2023 NFL Draft is from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event is at the plaza just outside of Union Station. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.
