FOXBORO — More than two dozen Patriots players were jettisoned from New England’s roster this offseason. Kayshon Boutte knows he could have been one of them.
The third-year wide receiver on Wednesday said he was aware his name appeared in trade rumors during the leadup to the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I mean, I heard about it, but I tried not to really put too much time into that,” Boutte said after the Patriots’ latest organized team activities practice. “It was just a lot of people just sitting behind phones, typing. It’s got nothing really to do with me.”
After playing sparingly as a sixth-round rookie in 2023, Boutte became a full-time starter last season, finishing with 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. His yardage total ranked third among Patriots pass-catchers behind tight end Hunter Henry and slot receiver DeMario Douglas.
“Once you’ve been on the field, you get momentum, more confidence,” Boutte said. “It’s just getting a feel for how everything goes, you know? That’s just as much motivation as I need for next season. I made a couple plays last year, but it’s always the goal to make more plays the next year and the next year.”
New England’s 2024 receiving corps was arguably the NFL’s worst, however, and the LSU product is not guaranteed a roster spot following the offseason additions of Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and third-round draft pick Kyle Williams. Douglas, veteran Kendrick Bourne and underwhelming 2024 draftees Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker also return, with small-school standout Efton Chism III headlining the team’s crop of undrafted rookies.
The Patriots also have a new offensive coordinator (Josh McDaniels) and a new receivers coach (Todd Downing) working under new head coach Mike Vrabel.
“We’ve got a lot of (receivers) — 12 guys,” Boutte said. “At the end of the day, it’ll probably be six of us, if we’re being honest. So every day’s another opportunity to get better and be great. We all know we’re in competition, but it’s up to us at the end of the day.”
With Diggs absent from the first two OTAs that were open to reporters, Hollins watching in street clothes and Polk held out of team drills, Boutte has seen plenty of reps so far this spring. Still a young player at 23, he’s looking to use these practices to strengthen his connection with quarterback Drake Maye.
“(Last season, I had) 589 yards, three touchdowns. Everybody’s got goals on being 1,000-yard receivers and stuff like that, but it starts with days like this,” Boutte said. “Just working with the team, getting on the same path as Drake. As long as we’re on the same page, everything else will take care of itself.”
Vrabel suggested Boutte’s conditioning will be an important factor in his bid for a roster spot.
“I think that he’s gotten in better shape as we started to go on to the OTAs, and I think that’s really started to help him as we stack plays together,” the head coach said. “In the game, you don’t just take a play on and just come off and then go back and forth. Hopefully, you can string together four or five plays as we work down the football field. So, I think that he’s working to do that. I like his attitude. I enjoy his willingness to continue to improve and maybe do some things a little differently.”
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