There were both some good and questionable moves made by the Jacksonville Jaguars organization this offseason, but most would agree that the team is better. They especially acquired a lot of solid defensive talent, signing names like Foley Fatukasi, Arden Key, Darious Williams, and Foyesade Oluokun in free agency, then using five of seven draft picks on defensive talent.
That’s not to say the offense was overlooked, though. The Jags gave receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones starter caliber money and signed a pass-catching threat at tight end in Evan Engram. Despite those additions, though, many fans left free agency, and the draft wishing the Jags would’ve signed a No. 1 caliber receiver.
There were opportunities to get players like Amari Cooper, who was on the trade block, or even bring Allen Robinson back to Duval. But the Jags went for players with the potential to be No. 1 receivers instead of those who have No. 1 receiver accomplishments.
For this reason, fans have already identified receiver as a top need heading into 2023. Our comrade at Touchdown Wire, Mark Schofield, clearly recognized this need, too, and slotted the Jags Louisiana State receiver Kayshon Boutte with the sixth overall pick in his way-too-early 2023 mock draft.
Here is what he had to say about the selection:
Similar to the Zach Wilson discussion, it is hard to sit here at the end of May and believe that the Jacksonville Jaguars would move on from former first-overall selection Trevor Lawrence, even if they land inside the top ten for what would be the fifth-straight year. So they add some help for him, with the first receiver off the board.
That help is LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. Plays like this might just endear him to Jacksonville fans, and more importantly, Lawrence:
The Jags aren’t expected to be playoff contenders this season, but landing Boutte and pairing him with Lawrence would certainly put them on the radar to do so next season. The 6-feet-0, 190-pound standout would give the Jags a soft-handed receiver who is solid after the catch and has great explosiveness. He’s also sudden out of his breaks and creates great separation through them.
However, for Boutte to earn a top-10 selection status, he will have to get healthier. His 2021 season was cut short at the five-game mark by a right ankle injury. When his season ended, he exited it with 38 catches for 508 yards and nine touchdowns. The injury eventually required a second surgery, and he’s missed the spring program for the Tigers so far as a result.
Luckily for Boutte, there is plenty of time to recover and get ready for the regular season. If he can do that, many like his chances to hit the 1,000-yard mark or come close to it, which would certainly regain the eyes of scouts in the NFL.
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