The New England Patriots were expected to take a wide receiver early in the 2023 NFL Draft, maybe even in the first round.
Wide receiver is a huge need for this roster. Sure, the Patriots have good depth at the position, but the lack of a true No. 1 star with game-breaking talent is a weakness for this offense.
Here's a full list of Patriots' 2023 draft picks
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The Patriots opted to bolster their defense in the first, second and third rounds of the draft this week. They finally started to add depth on offense Saturday, and that included the selection of LSU wideout Kayshon Boutte in the sixth round.
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New England took Boutte with the No. 187 overall pick. He was once considered a first-round caliber talent, but a disappointing 2022 season (48 receptions for 538 yards and two touchdowns) for LSU, as well as some injuries and effort concerns, caused his stock to drop pretty hard. But he's absolutely an exciting talent and worth the risk of a sixth-round pick.
What are draft experts saying about Boutte's potential in Foxboro?
Here's a roundup of notable reaction to the Patriots taking Boutte on Day 3.