New England Patriots - NESN.com
Kayshon Boutte is operating under some odd circumstances entering his third season with the New England Patriots.
It’s no sure thing that he cracks the roster, despite being one of the club’s most productive wide receivers last season.
New England added some serious depth to its position group this offseason, with Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams expected to immediately become difference-makers in their first season with the franchise. DeMario Douglas will continue to serve as the primary slot option, while Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have a step up based on contract value and recent draft positioning, respectively.
It’ll be tough to beat out one of those guys, let alone multiple, but that isn’t stopping Boutte from keeping a laser focus entering 2025.
“Just being on the field, you get more momentum, more confidence. Just getting a feel for how everything goes, that’s just as much motivation as you need for next season,” Boutte said on Wednesday, as transcribed by MassLive’s Mark Daniels. “(I) made a couple plays last year, but it’s always the goal to make more plays as the year goes on, the next year and the next year.”
The Patriots were surely pleased with how things eventually turned out during the still-just-23-year-old’s sophomore season — as he developed a great rapport with Drake Maye and proved to be the most reliable downfield threat inside the walls of One Patriot Place.
“(I made) a couple plays, finished 589 yards, three touchdowns,” Boutte said. “You know, everybody got goals of being 1,000-yard receivers and stuff like that, but it starts with days like this. Just working with the team, getting on the same path as Drake. As long as we’re on the same page, everything will take care of itself.”
Boutte will have to continue stacking great reps with Maye to earn himself a roster spot for the third consecutive season, but it’ll be a lot harder this time around.
Polk and Baker seem to be his closest competition, but the presence of undrafted rookie Efton Chism III is something that has many fans excited.
It’ll be a fun summer watching that group out behind Gillette Stadium.
