Finally, a wide receiver.

The Patriots drafted LSU’s Kayshon Boutte with the 187th overall pick in the sixth round of the draft Friday. Boutte represents a worthy gamble by the Patriots considering his immense talent and roller-coaster college career. After earning freshman All-American honors in 2020, Boutte was considered a first-round talent. He caught nine touchdowns in six games the following year.

But off-field issues and effort concerns caused his draft stock to plummet last season. He finished with 48 catches for 538 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 after leading the Tigers in receiving yards each of his two years. During that time, he reached 100 career catches faster than any receiver in school history, including Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr.

The 5-foot-11, 195 pounder later tested poorly at the NFL combine relative to his early-college film, running a 4.5 in the 40 and clocking a 7.14-second in the 3-cone. The Patriots are seemingly betting they will get the best of Boutte at the next level. He entered the college ranks as the No. 2 receiver in his class with an all-around game and holds the SEC single-game record for most receiving yards with a 308-yard performance in 2020.

He now joins DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton and Tre Nixon in the team’s receiver room.

The Patriots’ draft class so far:

Round 1, pick No. 17: Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez

Round 2, pick No. 46: Georgia Tech DL Keion White

Round 3, pick No. 76: Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu

Round 4, No. 107: Troy center Jake Andrews

Round 4, No. 112: Maryland kicker Chad Ryland

Round 4, No. 117: Eastern Michigan offensive lineman Sidy Sow

Round 5, No. 144: UCLA offensive lineman Atonio Mafi

Round 6, No. 187: LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte