Patriots Round 6 Recap: New England finally takes offensive playmaker
It took eight picks, but the New England Patriots finally selected an offensive skill player in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte with the 187th overall pick on Saturday afternoon. Boutte, who's 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, caught 131 passes for 1,782 yards with 16 touchdowns in three seasons with the […]
It took eight picks, but the New England Patriots finally selected an offensive skill player in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Patriots selected LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte with the 187th overall pick on Saturday afternoon. Boutte, who's 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, caught 131 passes for 1,782 yards with 16 touchdowns in three seasons with the Tigers.
Boutte, once a five-star recruit, did not test well at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.50-second 40-yard dash with a 29-inch vertical leap, 9-feet, 10-inch broad jump, 4.25-second short shuttle and 7.14-second 3-cone drill. But if you're waiting to take a wide until the sixth round, then Boutte is probably the best dice roll New England could make as a player once considered an elite talent.
- Round 6, Pick 187: WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Boutte primarily was used as a slot receiver in 2022 after splitting his time between the outside and the slot earlier in his career. He caught 48 passes for 538 yards with two touchdowns last season.
He has a chance to compete for a roster spot behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Tyquan Thornton.
- Round 6, Pick 192: P Bryce Baringer, Michigan State
New England wound up taking Maryland kicker Chad Ryland two rounds before the Patirots drafted a punter, which appeared to be a bigger need heading into Saturday afternoon.
Baringer in the first punter off the board. He's a right-footed punter who averaged 49 yards per punt and a 3.76-second hangtime in 2022, per PFF. He appeared at the Senior Bowl this winter. He'll compete with Corliss Waitman for the punter role this summer.
- Round 6, Pick 210: WR Demario Douglas, Liberty
New England grabbed another undersized slot receiver near the end of the sixth round in Douglas, who tested very well with a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical leap, 11-feet, 2-inch broad jump, 4.29-second short shuttle and 7.05-second 3-cone drill at 5-foot-8, 179 pounds.
He caught 79 passes for 993 yards with six touchdowns and carried the ball five times for 105 yards with a touchdown in 2022. He also returned two punts for touchdowns in his college career. - Round 6, Pick 214: CB Ameer Speed, Michigan State
A Georgia transfer, the aptly named Speed ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds. He's a project as a cornerback but has special teams experience. His size-speed combo and is worthy of a late-round flier.
Featured image via LSU Athletics
