Kayshon Boutte has been a key contributor to the New England Patriots’ offense for each of the past two seasons. He has come a long way since his rookie year back in 2023, when he was arrested on gambling charges. Here’s a look back at the wide receiver’s controversial past ahead of his Super Bowl 60 appearance.
Why Was Kayshon Boutte Arrested on Gambling Charges, and What Was the Outcome?
Boutte was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to add depth to their wide receivers. He appeared in just five games during his rookie season, which was likely affected by his arrest for gambling violations.
His arrest occurred in January 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His list of charges included computer fraud and underage gambling related to his reported 8,900+ wagers placed when he was with the LSU Tigers during his college football career.
“Investigators assigned to the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division found that Boutte bet on sports from April 6, 2022, until May 7, 2023, when he was 20. Boutte allegedly used an alias to get around the age requirement for placing sports wagers in Louisiana,” reported ESPN.
He allegedly placed at least 17 bets on NCAA football games, including at least six involving LSU, all of which are prohibited for any college football player. His being underage and falsifying documents to create a gambling account further added to the violations, and made his investigation criminal. His wagering apparently continued even after the Patriots drafted him.
READ MORE:Â Top 100 2026 NFL Free Agent Rankings
“Boutte’s wagering, according to police, continued for approximately a week after he was taken by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. The NFL’s gambling policy allows players to bet on sports, but not on anything related to the league,” added ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
A few months later, in July of the 2024 NFL offseason, his lawyer announced that the charges against the young wide receiver were dropped. He remained with the Patriots, but had to fight for a roster spot during training camp, especially after they drafted two more receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, with his availability potentially in jeopardy.
Just two years later, Boutte has become one of the key pieces of their passing game. He impressively finished the 2025 season ranked 18th among all wide receivers in PFSN’s Impact Rankings and has been a reliable target for Drake Maye. His journey to overcoming his controversial past will continue in Super Bowl 60 against the Seattle Seahawks’ top-ranked defense.
