Kayshon Boutte
Getty
New England Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte
The New England Patriots started the 2025-26 season with a loss, but were able to get their first look at the future of the offense.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye threw for 287 yards and a touchdown pass in the 13-20 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Three of the Patriots’ receiving options had more than 50 receiving yards, including wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and key offseason signing Stefon Diggs — who logged more than half of Maye’s passing yards.
Boutte recorded 103 receiving yards on 6 receptions in the season opener, while Diggs logged 57 yards in 6 catches in his debut for New England. Boutte is currently tied for the seventh-most receiving yards in the league with tight end Brock Bowers.
Pro Football Focus released its top 32 receivers in the league heading into Week 2 after the season opener, featuring the Patriots duos. Here’s what they had to say.
Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte
GettyPatriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (center).
PFF named Kayshon Boutte as the second-best wide receiver heading into Week 2 after his performance against the Raiders.
“The third-year receiver out of LSU opened the 2025 season with a six-catch, 103-yard day against the Las Vegas Raiders. Boutte moved the chains five times, hauled in two of three contested catches and recorded three plays of 15-plus yards,” Lauren Gray wrote for PFF.
“Most of Boutte’s catches came from 10-plus yards downfield, as he secured four of five intermediate targets for 57 yards, along with two of three deep-field targets for an additional 43 yards. Boutte also hauled in all five of his targets where he had at least one step of separation on a defender, recording 89 yards, four first downs and a league-best 96.6 PFF receiving grade on those plays.”
Boutte was tied in targets with Drake Maye in the season opener with tight end Hunter Henry.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel credits Boutte’s professionalism, which allowed the receiver to have a strong start to the season.
Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs
GettyNew England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs
The biggest free agent acquisition for the New England Patriots was wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the organization.
Diggs was signed with the contention that he will be the team’s number one wide receiver in the 2025-26 season.
As mentioned, the receiver had 6 catches for 57 yards in the season opener. Diggs returned from a torn ACL he suffered last season, marking his first game action since the injury.
Pro Football Focus listed the four-time Pro Bowler as the 15th-best wide receiver heading into the second week of the NFL season.
“Diggs made his return to the field after suffering a torn ACL in 2024… His longest gain came midway through the fourth quarter when he was able to split defenders for a 16-yard gain. Six of his seven targets were against zone coverage, and five came between the numbers, where he earned a 72.2 PFF receiving grade,” Gray wrote.
Diggs had the third most receiving yards for the Patriots, behind Boutte and Henry, and had the fifth most in the season opener.
With the wide receiver playing his first game in the NFL and getting back into the groove of things, he could see more production as the season goes on.