Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was arrested on two gambling charges, NOLA.com’s Wilson Alexander reports. The 2023 sixth-round pick faces a felony charge of computer fraud and a misdemeanor of gaming prohibited by someone under 21.
Boutte allegedly used an alias to bet on sports in Louisiana while underage. This scheme is alleged to include more than 8,900 bets, per Alexander. At least 17 of those were on college football games, with six of them being on LSU contests. Boutte, a former five-star recruit, played at LSU from 2020-22. These alleged wagers took place during Boutte’s time at the SEC school.
The Patriots drafted Boutte, 21, last year and used him sparingly. He caught two passes for 19 yards as a rookie. Acknowledging the arrest, the NFL did not comment on the matter, via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. These bets coming while Boutte was in college separate this case from recent violations by NFL players. An arrest also provides an interesting distinction here.
Regardless of when the bets took place, the NFL has seen a number of players encounter issues on the gambling front over the past two years. Calvin Ridley‘s 2022 suspension preceded a host of 2023 bans, including those handed out to Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams and Titans tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike incurred a season-long ban for betting on NFL games, but the Iowa State alum is also accused of betting on Cyclones games during his time in Ames. The latter component made the 2021 Denver draftee the subject of a criminal investigation as well.
Given Boutte’s minimal role on the 2023 Pats and new coaches coming in, it is safe to say the former top-tier recruit’s career is in jeopardy.
More must-reads: