Kayshon Boutte seemingly wants to stay with the New England Patriots despite trade rumors (and ESPN's Adam Schefter) saying otherwise.
This is great news, in theory, but is it really? With their acquisition of A.J. Brown (and, to a lesser extent, Romeo Doubs), there's basically no way for Boutte to become a true No. 1 for them. And given that he is due for a big pay raise as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, it might not be too wise for New England to sign him to a new contract if he's just going to be limited and maybe even stand in the way of Kyle Williams' development.
However, there's also no denying the talent that the Louisiana native has. He quickly became Drake Maye's favorite target (he caught his first NFL touchdown pass and caught six touchdowns last season - only Hunter Henry finished higher with seven), and keeping him around (especially following the departure of Stefon Diggs, who also became one of Maye's favorites) could be great for the team's overall chemistry on offense.
It would also add real depth to a suddenly crowded receiver room in New England, and on paper, he would be an excellent receiver to have opposite Brown.
The Patriots have a decision to make regarding Boutte... and it needs to happen soon.
The Patriots should at least keep Kayshon Boutte into the season
If it were up to me (and if I end up buying Madden this year, then it might be, in a way), Boutte's going to stay on the team at least to start the season.
The Patriots have a great thing going for them on offense, and they (and the fans) deserve to see it through. And it all starts with keeping the LSU product on the roster, giving him some reps in the team's improved offense, and seeing what he can do. Just give him one more chance to prove he deserves a new contract.
If anything, they can just move off of him ahead of next season's trade deadline if he's either 1) not meeting expectations or 2) is exceeding expectations to such an extent that trading him at his highest value might be New England's only real option.
There's a lot to like about the 24-year-old and what he's brought to the table so far. And, if nothing else, it seems like he genuinely enjoys playing for the Patriots. The team deserves to give Boutte one last chance to prove his value, because if all goes right, then they may quietly be building an offensive juggernaut that other teams around the league may not be ready for.
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