SEC 2023 NFL Draft Preview: LSU WR Kayshon Boutte

Considered as one of the top overall wide receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft prior to this past season beginning, you will likely find few prospects who will be more intriguing to follow across the next month than LSU’s Kayshon Boutte. A talented wideout who has certainly shown flashes across his time in Baton Rouge, what does the 2023 NFL Draft have in store for Boutte?

SEC 2023 NFL Draft Preview: LSU WR Kayshon Boutte

A former five-star prospect, Boutte originally came to LSU in the Tigers 2020 recruiting class out of in-state Westgate High School, where he was also considered as one of the nation’s top wide receivers.

Once in Baton Rouge, Boutte would go on to make an immediate impact in 2020 as a freshman, hauling in 45 receptions for 735 yards and five touchdowns across 10 games. The Tigers leading receiver, Boutte would also once again lead LSU in 2021 despite only playing in six games, totaling 38 receptions for 509 yards and nine touchdowns.

As a junior this past season, Boutte would amass 48 receptions across 11 games, along with 538 yards and two touchdowns. Declaring for the NFL Draft at seasons end, Boutte would conclude his LSU career with a stat line of 131 receptions for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns from 2020-22.

Strengths

As mentioned previously, Boutte was considered as one of the top receivers in this draft prior to this past season beginning, and for good reason. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Boutte simply has almost everything that you would want physically for the position in the NFL.

A strong route-runner, Boutte has excellent hands as a receiver, and excels after the catch in the open field with his speed, size, and agility. Simply put, LSU has a long line of receivers who have gone on have success in the NFL, and Boutte very well might be next.

Question Marks

As for a question mark surrounding Boutte’s transition to the NFL, the former five-star took a step back in production during the 2022 season, which caused the LSU wideouts draft stock to fall. The LSU product is one of the more intriguing wide receivers in this draft because of it, and teams will be looking to see if Boutte can get back to his 2020-21 form.

Potential Draft Range

A player whose draft stock has fallen a bit recently, Boutte is still however likely to come off the board within the first couple of rounds. As to when that is, the LSU wideout is likely not a first round pick, but could potentially come off the board in the late-second, as well as seemingly unlikely that Boutte falls past the fourth.

Draft Prediction

Boutte will be selected in the second-or-third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.