Boutte had 735 yards as an 18-year-old freshman at LSU back in 2020, followed by 508 yards and nine TDs in six games in 2021, before disappointing in his final season with 538 yards over 11 games. He then dropped to Round 6 of the 2023 Draft after crashing out at the combine with a 4.50 40 and 29-inch vertical (at 5-11, 195). There wasn't much reason to think we'd hear from Boutte again after a two-catch rookie season, but the Patriots gave him a shot last year after their other WRs (besides slot man DeMario Douglas) provided next to nothing. Boutte responded with a long stretch of mediocre receiving lines, averaging 2.5 catches for 33.6 yards on 4.6 targets in his first 10 starts, before erupting over the final three weeks for a combined 16-240-2 receiving line on 19 targets. He drew targets on just 16.4 percent of his routes for the season, but easily led New England's qualified pass catchers in aDOT (14.2), yards per target (8.7) and yards per catch (13.7). While it may not have been enough to lock down a 2025 starting job, Boutte should at least have the chance to compete with rookie third-round pick Kyle Williams -- and there may even be room for both if free-agent signing Stefon Diggs struggles to come back from an ACL tear.
