Will the Bengals Roll the Dice on Kayshon Boutte?

There has been drama swirling around LSU’s receiver Kayshon Boutte.

Earlier this season, I highlighted some of it in my September article “Not So Fast On Giving Kayshon Boutte A First-Round Grade,” when he scrubbed his social media after the FSU game.

He had thought about transferring last summer from LSU, but then decided to stay. Then after this past season he decided to stay, but then turned around surprisingly and declared for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

While Boutte’s decision making process and the off-field stuff will weigh into the final grade NFL teams put on him, the focus of this evaluation is his game film.

Boutte underachieves

We have to start by addressing the elephant in the room.

There’s no question Boutte has shown upper-echelon abilities on game film over the past two seasons, but he has also showed he will dog it at times.

That’s never good.

Boutte is one of these players I would have to talk myself into, and that’s not good either.

Does he have it in him to be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 (slot) receiver at the next level?

Yes.

Will he be great?

I don’t see that kind of want on his football resume – – the game film.

No question he’s naturally talented

Boutte flashes initial quickness to achieve route leverage (especially to the inside.) He also flashes that he can smoothly glide and drive hard into his routes.

With a lean and stocky build, he uses his hands well to contend at the intermediate route level, which is where he does his best work. He almost looks like a running back lined up at receiver.

He does a nice job on comeback routes and he has a knack for getting open.

I also liked the fact he actively worked back to his quarterback when he was in trouble.

The big concerns on game film

He had a really hard time gaining straight-line separation.

There were a number of routes he ran where the corner was glued to him and he couldn’t create much (if any) separation. There are times where his route running also got undisciplined.

Boutte has the look and feel of being a possession type receiver – – not a big play guy – – and he also struggled picking up any additional yardage after the catch (YAC).

He did not look explosive, but he did look technically sound.

His route running also looked better than it did the last time around studying him.

Will the Bengals draft him?

The obvious thing that jumps out is Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase are both from LSU.

That coupled with Boutte liking familiarity, leads me to believe there is a strong chance of Cincinnati landing him.

Add in the fact, the Bengals can always use more receivers for Burrow to throw to, and the chances go up even more.

Boutte is not a first-rounder on game film, and he never has had a breakout season, but he will add value in a situation he fits into.

#7 Kayshon Boutte 6-foot-0, 205 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Third-Round (I would not select him)

Projected by 64.0% (down from 97.5% on September 21) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 9, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust Probability: High

2022 game film reviewed: Alabama, Mississippi State and Tennessee (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 38 receptions (53 targets and a 71% catch rate) 509 yards (13.4 avg.), 9 TD, 64-long

2022 stats: 48 receptions (74 targets and a 64% catch rate) 538 yards (11.2 avg.), 2 TD, 53-long

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Compact and physical muscular possession receiver with long arms, soft hands and a questionable motor. Lines up outside and in the slot. Smooth runner who flashed initial quickness and physicality to achieve route leverage. Excels short to intermediate. Flashed stiff arm after receptions, but limited YAC. Showed average football straight-line playing speed on numerous reps and couldn’t shake free. Does well using his frame to box out corners on intermediate comebacks and has a real knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage and exploiting them. Able to adjust back to the ball, but not a deep threat. Hasn’t lived up to his potential.

Final words

He’s a real wildcard in this draft.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.