Rookie Profile: Kayshon Boutte

Kayshon Boutte - WR - LSU

Listed Measurables:

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 195 lbs

Arms: 31 3/8"

Hands: 9 1/2"

Draft Age: 20.8 Y/O

Early Declare: Yes

Breakout Age: 18.8

2023 NFL Combine Grades:

40-Yard Dash: 4.50s

10-Yard Split: 1.58s

Vertical Jump: 29"

Broad Jump: 9’10"

3 Cone Drill: N/A

20 Yd Shuttle: 4.25s

Bench Press: N/A

Career Notes:

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

Kayshon Boutte blew up as a dual-threat high school athlete at Westgate High School in his hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana. In his final season before committing to play college football Boutte recorded 47 receptions for an absurd 1005 yards (21.4 YPR) and 15 receiving touchdowns while toting 71 carries for 874 yards (12.3 YPC) and 12 rushing touchdowns.

His stellar senior season at Westgate would earn Boutte a 5-star recruitment rating from 24/7 Sports as the number two wideout in the nation. The young stud receiver decided to stay in-state, committing to LSU, merely 90 minutes from where he grew up.

Accolades:

• 5 Star Recruit (247/Rivals)

• Set SEC Single-Game Receiving Yards Record at 18 Y/O (14 REC, 308 YDS, 3 TD)

Past Production/Collegiate Career:

Boutte set the collegiate football world on fire as a true Freshman for LSU. He was named a Freshman All-American, earning All-Freshman SEC honors after leading the program with 735 receiving yards on 45 receptions (16.3 YPR) and five touchdowns across 10 games. During Boutte’s stellar true-freshman breakout season he set the SEC Single-Game receiving yards record with 308 against Ole Miss (14 REC/22.3 YPR/3 TD).

Boutte would start in six games as a sophomore, recording 38 receptions for 509 yards (13.4 YPR) and nine touchdowns while generating a blistering 145.3 QB rating when targeted. Unfortunately, the hot start to his sophomore campaign would be derailed as Boutte would need surgery to repair an injured right ankle. Complications in recovery would force LSU’s number one wideout to receive a second surgery before the start of the 2022 season.

As a junior in 2022, Boutte caught just 48 passes for 538 yards (11.2 YPR) and two touchdowns while completely conceding his role to rising star receiver Malik Nabers.

Boutte would announce his intentions to return to LSU for his senior season before rescinding his statements and declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Stats to Know:

Todd Kirkland / Getty Images

• Generated a 145.3 QB rating when targeted in 2021.

• 509 YDS and 9 TD (28.1% REC TD Share/22.0% OFF TD Share) in 6 Games Played during 2021.

2020 Stats:

10 GP

45 REC

18.2% REC Share

78 TGT

18.5% TGT Share

735 REC YDS (5 TD)

23.5% REC YDS Share

16.3 YPR

1.74 REC YDS/TPA

0.95 REC YDS/TA

20.8% REC TD Share

15.2% OFF TD Share

2021 Stats:

6 GP

38 REC

14.5% REC Share

53 TGT

12.2% TGT Share

509 REC YDS (9 TD)

15.4% REC YDS Share

13.4 YPR

1.14 REC YDS/TPA

0.58 REC YDS/TA

28.1% REC TD Share

22.0% OFF TD Share

2022 Stats:

11 GP

48 REC

14.9% REC Share

74 TGT

15.5% TGT Share

538 REC YDS (2 TD)

14.2% REC YDS Share 

11.2 YPR

1.12 REC YDS/TPA

0.52 REC YDS/TA

0.09% REC TD Share

0.03% OFF TD Share

Collegiate Career Totals:

37 Games

131 REC

205 TGT

1781 REC YDS

16 Total TD

11.0 YD aDOT

938 Snaps

893 Routes

2.0 YPRR

42.0% Slot Rate

57.9% Wide Rate 

Collegiate Career Bests:

18.5% TGT Share

24.6% TGT/Route

95.2% Route Share

1.74 REC YDS/TPA

0.95 REC YDS/TA

2.38 YPRR

Scouting Report:

NFL Draft Grade: 6.29 (Will Eventually Be Average Starter)

Next-Gen Draft Grade: 72 (Good)

Scouting Strengths:

• A prototypical blend of size and on-field athleticism.

• Dominated would-be NFL defenders in the SEC as a true freshman.

• Great Linear and Vertical speed, accesses second gear at ease.

• Comes back to the ball fluidly, saving the Quarterback from misplaced throws frequently.

• RAC 'em up, young fella. Gains big chunks of yardage after the catch.

• Flexible hips. Possesses good bend at the line of scrimmage and in tight windows.

• Big players make big plays in big games.

Scouting Weaknesses:

• Consistent statistical regression post-freshman breakout.

• Fails to Stack defenders consistently, often getting caught over the top by backstop safeties.

• Underdeveloped fundamentals cause poor route execution and unexpected drops.

• Lacks surgical precision in routes despite flashing all the necessary intangibles to be an elite separator.

• Has exhibited some bad habits with body catching at times.

• Ankle Injuries.

Expected Draft Capital:

• Projected Round: 2nd/3rd

• EDP: 89.5

• Consensus Position Rank: WR7

Perfect Fit/Landing Spot:

New York Giants

New Orleans Saints

Kansas City Chiefs

Consensus Landing Spot:

Carolina Panthers

Top NFL Player Comparisons:

Hunter Renfrow

Kendrick Bourne

Tyreek Hill

Martavis Bryant

Cordarrelle Patterson 

Marquise Goodwin

Elijah Moore

Laviska Shenault

Darnell Mooney

Jalen Reagor

Christian Kirk

*All Comparisons subject to change with NFL Draft capital and landing spot

Future NFL/Fantasy Outlook:

Managers that remain high on Boutte’s future outlook as a star NFL receiver are clinging to the ghost of an analytical profile that no longer exists. There is, however, an undeniable upside buried behind several red flags in the once-promising young wideouts profile. His record-setting true freshman breakout may very well outweigh his continued statistical regression across his three-year career. 

Boutte could easily find a home as a solid WR2/3 on several NFL offenses, however, expecting a top-10 positional return in production or value is nothing more than a baseless hope shrouded in overconfidence.

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at BRoto Fantasy Football.

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