Gambling Charges Dropped Against Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte
7:20pm: Although Boutte has avoided charges, the NFL announced later Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss) will continue its investigation into the 2023 Patriots draftee. The league’s personal conduct policy does not require a conviction to punish a player. Boutte remains eligible for training camp.
11:13am: In January, second-year Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte was arrested on gambling and computer fraud charges. Those charges have now been dropped, though, as detailed by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. 
Boutte faced one felony count of computer fraud in addition to a misdemeanor of gaming prohibited by someone under 21 stemming from an alleged betting scheme during his time at LSU. He was accused of using an alias to place at least 8,900 wagers; of that total, a minimum of 17 were believed to have been on college football games, including six LSU contests. Investigators from the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division discovered the wagers took place between April 6, 2022 and May 7, 2023, at which point Boutte was 20.
The state of Louisiana’s decision to drop the charges now leaves the former five-star recruit free to focus on training camp and the preseason, though. Boutte was a participant in New England’s OTAs and minicamp and his performance this summer will go a long way in determining his roster status. After a college tenure which included plenty of potential being flashed in addition to injury problems, he logged only a minor offensive role across five games as a rookie.
The former sixth-rounder has considerable competition for a spot on the 53-man roster. New England signed K.J. Osborn in free agency and added a pair of wideouts (second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk and fourth-rounder Javon Baker) during the draft. Those newcomers will be joined in camp by the likes of Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas as presumptive locks to make the team.
As a result, Boutte will be competing with Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton for the final one or two spots at the receiver position. His limited usage last season could limit interest shown on waivers by outside teams in the event he failed to make the 53-man roster, but being in the clear from a legal standpoint is nevertheless a positive development from his perspective.
PFR Originals: Raiders, Chiefs, Judon, GMs
Here is a rundown of PFR’s latest original content:
- Sam Robinson continued our Offseason in Review Series with a recap of the Raiders’ moves this spring. Las Vegas owner Mark Davis followed the recommendations of his top players by removing the interim title for head coach Antonio Pierce in addition to hiring Tom Telesco as general manager. That pair will oversee the team’s efforts to return to the postseason on the backs of an improved defense (which includes free agent signing Christian Wilkins) and a different QB under center than the start of the 2023 campaign when Jimmy Garoppolo operated as the starter.
- Sam’s latest Offseason in Review installment looked into the Chiefs. Kansas City won a second straight Super Bowl in 2023, but a number of moves at the receiver position were deemed necessary. The team’s defense managed to retain Chris Jones on a big-money deal, though in light of that commitment L’Jarius Sneed was tagged-and-traded to the Titans. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce each saw adjustments made to their contracts as they prepare for another year as the team’s offensive pillars.
- Regarding the Raiders’ QB situation, I polled readers about the competition for the QB1 gig which is set to take place between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. O’Connell was installed as starter once Pierce took over from Josh McDaniels last season, and he delivered strong (if unspectacular) results down the stretch during his rookie campaign. Vegas showed considerable interest in drafting a Day 1 signal-caller this spring, but with that not coming to fruition Minshew has a chance to win the top spot. The veteran (attached to a $25MM deal) received a clear majority of votes over O’Connell ahead of training camp.
- The Cowboys have a number of important financial decisions to make in the near future on the contract front. In the latest Community Tailgate, Sam explored the status of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. The former two are pending free agents while the latter is under contract through 2025. All three will need deals at or near the top of their respective markets, something which would considerably complicate Dallas’ cap outlook. Replacing one or more, meanwhile, could prove to be challenging.
- Plenty of uncertainty surrounds Matt Judon‘s future with the Patriots. The four-time Pro Bowler has one year remaining on his deal, and mixed signals have emerged with respect to whether or not a new agreement will be reached. Ben Levine broke down Judon’s situation in our latest Extension Candidate effort; the Patriots have handed out numerous new deals to in-house players this offseason, but it remains to be seen if they will do so with Judon.
- With the salary cap experiencing an historic one-year jump, individual cap charges continue to reach unprecedented heights. I looked at the top charges on the offensive side of the ball, a group which is of course dominated by quarterbacks. Seven receivers and six offensive linemen are also at the top of the pecking order, though, an illustration of how those positions have been valued in recent years.
- The 2024 offseason saw a number of changes in the front office. Five teams have a new general manager (in title and/or in practice), the Patriots being among them. With Bill Belichick no longer in place as New England’s top decision-maker, Mickey Loomis (Saints) now resides as the league’s longest-tenured pure GM. Sam charted where each team stands in that respect after the moves made over the past few months.
- Rises in the salary cap ceiling have of course aided the career earnings of modern NFL players. Ben listed the 25 highest-paid players in league history in terms of on-field compensation. Save for Aaron Donald (who retired this offseason), each member of the group is still active, and as such they will add further to their earnings for at least one more campaign.
Jets Explored Adding Arthur Smith To Offensive Staff
The Jets will rely on Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator and play-caller in 2024, but his job security has been a talking point during the offseason. New York sought out a de facto Hackett replacement following his first season at the helm; more details on that front have emerged. 
One of the candidates the Jets contacted in their search for a veteran offensive mind was Arthur Smith, Dianna Russini reported on the initial episode of The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast. Smith – who was fired after the conclusion of his third season as head coach of the Falcons – may have had a role in offensive play-calling had New York followed through with a hire. Russini added quarterback Aaron Rodgers was “made aware” of the general efforts on the team’s part to supplement Hackett on the coaching staff.
After a three-year run as a non play-calling OC with Rodgers and the Packers, Hackett received his first head coaching opportunity with the Broncos in 2022. His tenure in the Mile High City lasted less than one year after a disastrous outing in charge of the team. His hire as offensive coordinator of the Jets led to high expectations upon reuniting with Rodgers, but the latter’s Week 1 Achilles tear derailed New York’s season.
The Jets finished near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories in 2023 as the team struggled to find production in the passing game in particular. Hackett – along with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas received a mulligan from ownership, however. Hackett has also received public praise from Rodgers and a vote of confidence that a heathy season under center will produce the desired results on offense in 2024.
Smith’s head coaching stock was generated during his time as OC of the Titans. His Atlanta tenure consisted of three consecutive 7-10 seasons, though, and the team’s offense did not produce as expected. The 42-year-old was hired by the Steelers as their new offensive coordinator, and his experience with ground-heavy attacks could mesh well in Pittsburgh. Considering the extent to which the Jets’ offense will rely on running back Breece Hall in 2024, Smith may have also fit in as a key figure on New York’s staff.
In any event, attention will continue to be focused on Rodgers’ health and Hackett’s play-calling effectiveness as the Jets aim to rebound on offense this season. Questions about the latter’s future could intensify if New York is unable to do so, something which could prompt another search for new voices along the sidelines.
Texans Sign DE Malik Fisher
One day before the start of their training camp, the Texans have added depth in the front seven. UFL defensive end Malik Fisher has signed with Houston, per an announcement from the spring league.
Fisher went undrafted in the NFL following the 2021 campaign. The Villanova product played with the D.C. Defenders in 2022 and remained with the team last year for the inaugural season of the UFL. Fisher’s rights remain with the Defenders in the event he is unable to land a roster spot with the Texans or another NFL team come the fall.
The 25-year-old was tied for second in the UFL in sacks last season with seven. Fisher added 33 tackles (including seven for loss), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the campaign. He will look to translate that success into a strong performance during training camp practices and Houston’s preseason schedule.
The Texans saw Jonathan Greenard depart in free agency when he took a deal with the Vikings. The team did bring in another first-team contributor, though, in the form of Danielle Hunter on a two-year contract including $48MM guaranteed. Last week, Houston retained Jerry Hughes on a one-year deal, providing depth along the edge. Hunter will be joined by Will Anderson as a starter for the Texans, with Hughes and fellow veteran Derek Barnett set to log a rotational role.
Houston also has 2023 fourth-rounder Dylan Horton and seventh-round rookie Solomon Byrd in the fold at the defensive end spot. Fisher will therefore have plenty of competition for reps and a roster spot this summer as he looks to become the latest player to use spring league success as a springboard to an NFL gig. The Texans entered Tuesday with over $20MM in cap space, so they will easily be able to afford what will no doubt be a league minimum flier on Fisher.
Commanders To Hire Scott Fitterer
Scott Fitterer‘s tenure as general manager of the Panthers came to an end this winter, but the veteran executive has lined up a new gig for the 2024 campaign. Fitterer is being hired by the Commanders as a personnel executive, as first reported by Ben Standig of The Athletic. 
Fitterer began his NFL front office career with the Giants before a lengthy tenure in Seattle’s organization. He joined the Seahawks in 2001 as an area scout and spent the next two decades working his way up the ladder while spending time in the personnel department. After a single season as the team’s VP of football operations, Fitterer was hired as general manager of the Panthers.
The 50-year-old held that position for three years, but Carolina was unable to put together a run of success during that time. The team went 5-12 in 2021, and the following season saw Christian McCaffrey traded away as a sign of a rebuild. Fitterer’s most impactful decision was of course the trade with the Bears which allowed for the acquisition of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. That selection was used on Bryce Young, whom the franchise is banking on becoming a true franchise quarterback.
Young’s rookie campaign did not go according to plan, and head coach Frank Reich did not make it through his debut Panthers season. The latter was fired after a 1-10 start to the campaign, and increasing pressure emerged with respect to Fitterer’s job security. After Carolina finished out the season 2-15 (a record which did not yield the first overall pick in 2024, per the terms of the Young blockbuster) and failed to work out a long-term extension with edge rusher Brian Burns, it came as little surprise that Fitterer was dismissed.
The Panthers promoted from within by tapping Dan Morgan as Fitterer’s successor, and Dave Canales is in place as a first-time head coach. That pair will be tasked with overseeing Young’s development moving forward as Carolina attempts to rebound from the 14-37 record posted during Fitterer’s time at the helm. The latter will now turn his attention to the Commanders’ rebuilding efforts.
As expected, new Washington owner Josh Harris used his first campaign in charge to evaluate the team’s front office and coaching staff. Ron Rivera was fired after the end of the regular season and Martin Mayhew was replaced by Adam Peters as general manager. Mayhew is still in the organization, one which has undergone considerable turnover at a number of positions since Peters’ hire. Fitterer will have a voice in Commanders decisions – including those affecting the scouting department, ESPN’s John Keim adds – moving forward as he aims to rebuild his GM stock.
Davante Adams Addresses Raiders’ Decision To Bench Jimmy Garoppolo
The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo last offseason, but he struggled early in the campaign. That was followed by a pair of missed contests and the midseason firings of Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler. By the time the veteran quarterback was healthy, he had been benched in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell. 
[RELATED: Recapping Raiders’ Offseason]
The latter held starting duties through the remainder of the season, a period with interim head coach Antonio Pierce at the helm. Pierce was hired on a full-time basis after receiving the endorsement of several high-profile Raiders players. One of those was wideout Davante Adams, who appears to have had a say in the decision to replace Garoppolo with O’Connell.
A scene from Netflix’s Receiver series shows Adams being asked his thoughts on the QB decision. The three-time All-Pro replies, “well, my opinion on that was that I signed off on that, and that’s just the reality of it” (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).
It comes as little surprise Adams’ opinion would be asked about a quarterback switch, but his remark suggests further frustration between he and the team could have emerged had Garoppolo stayed in place. Adams joined Vegas in the hopes of reuniting with former college teammate Derek Carr, but that was only the case for one year. Carr’s departure prompted the ill-fated Garoppolo signing and questions about Adams’ future with the Raiders. It seems his desire to remain with the organization was a factor in his view on the shift to O’Connell.
“I love Jimmy.” the 31-year-old added. “He’s a great guy, but something had to happen in order for us to have a chance down the stretch, and for me to remain a Raider, in all honesty.”
Adams recently offered a public commitment to Vegas despite continued interest on the part of former teammates (including Aaron Rodgers) to have him seek a trade elsewhere. Such a move is unlikely at this point, but it is clear Adams had his short- and long-term future in mind when giving his thoughts on the Raiders’ 2023 QB depth chart. O’Connell is still in place, and he will spend training camp competing for the No. 1 gig with Gardner Minshew.
As for Adams, three years remain on his contract (although no guaranteed salary is in place beyond 2024). The six-time Pro Bowler’s cap hits are scheduled to spike next offseason, so an extension or other adjustment could be needed by that point. It will be interesting to see how he meshes with O’Connell and/or Minshew over the course of the coming campaign during Pierce’s first full year as head coach.
K Robbie Gould Turned Down 2023 Offer Prior To Retirement
When the 49ers elected to select Jake Moody in the third round of the 2023 draft, it was clear Robbie Gould would need to find a new team to continue his playing career. The veteran kicker expressed an interest in doing so last July, but he did not end up signing with any suitors. 
“The right place didn’t come up,” Gould said in an conversation with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I had an opportunity to go to a rival of San Francisco’s at the end of the year, but at that point I knew, what was three weeks going to do to change my career? What was three weeks going to do to change the trajectory of what I wanted to accomplish as a player?”
That comment could be a reference to the Giants. Dealing with an injury to Graham Gano, New York auditioned a number of veteran kickers in November, including Gould. The 41-year-old did not finalize a Giants deal, though, and by early December he made it known he intended to retire. That move brought about an end to a career defined by longevity and postseason accuracy.
Gould made 282 combined regular and postseason appearances with the Bears, Giants and 49ers. The former UDFA connected on all 29 of his playoff field goal attempts, and he went 39-for-39 on extra point kicks. That success was not enough to convince the 49ers to keep him in the fold at the end of his contract, something Gould also spoke about.
“Could I have gone back to San Francisco? Probably not,” the Penn State product added. “I think the relationship there from the executives to me was definitely fractured. Not in a poor way, I just think negotiations and how those things operated, they take a toll on your relationships. I’ll be forever thankful for what they did for my family, very thankful for the York family for what they did for six years, giving me an opportunity to have success and play in NFC Championships and Super Bowls.”
Bears WR Rome Odunze On Track For Starting Role
The Bears invested in both the present and future of their offense during Day 1 of the draft by selecting Caleb Williams first overall and Rome Odunze at No. 9. The former has already be tapped as Chicago’s starting quarterback, and the latter is likewise positioned to occupy a first-team role right away. 
Odunze was the third receiver to come off the board, and Bears general manager Ryan Poles explored a move up to No. 8 to guarantee Chicago would land the former Huskies product. Odunze led the way on a star-studded Washington passing attack (92 catches, 1,640 yards, 13 touchdowns) and earned consensus first-team All-American honors as a result.
The Bears saw D.J. Moore post career-best numbers in his debut season with the team last year, but adding at the receiver spot was an offseason priority. Chicago acquired Keenan Allen via trade, setting him up for a starting spot in the Windy City. Moore and Allen took first-team reps during spring practices, and the latter confirmed (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin) the same was true for Odunze.
Skill position players drafted early are often counted on to contribute right away, so it comes as little surprise Odunze appears to fit into that category. The 22-year-old will need to confirm his place in the WR pecking order over the coming weeks, of course, but expectations will be high for him individually and the Bears’ offense as a whole if things go according to plan come the fall. The presence of Moore and Allen (along with tight end Cole Kmet and free agent running back D’Andre Swift) will give Odunze plenty of competition for targets, but he could carve out a notable role over the course of the summer.
Chicago ranked second in rushing yards last season; the passing game was a much different story, though, finishing 27th through the air. Williams will be expected to guide the Bears to a step forward on offense in 2024, but Odunze’s role during his rookie season will be worth monitoring as well.
WR Deven Thompkins Will Not Face NFL Discipline
Deven Thompkins‘ situation has become clearer with respect to his legal status in the league’s view and his playing future. The former Buccaneers receiver and returner is no longer the subject of an NFL investigation stemming from domestic abuse allegations. 
“Following a review of the matter, the league did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy,” a statement from NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy reads (via Greg Auman of Fox Sports).
Thompkins was waived with an injury designation by the Buccaneers in June shortly before allegations of domestic abuse by his estranged wife, Maria Castillos. The latter made claims in social media posts about abuse dating back to February 14, 2023. Thompkins denied the allegations and responded by filing a defamation suit. As the parties continue through divorce proceedings, Auman notes Castillos has now taken down the videos which contain the allegations.
Thompkins sought out – and was granted – a meeting with a pair of personal conduct investigators as well as an NFLPA attorney earlier this month. Shortly thereafter, today’s news has emerged confirming he is in the clear with respect to facing any potential league discipline. The 24-year-old remains free to sign with an interested team at any time, and the latest update on his situation should help his chances of landing a deal.
A former UDFA, Thompkins made only 22 receptions during his Tampa Bay tenure. He contributed on kick and punt returns over the past two seasons, however, totaling 1,082 all-purpose yards. That production – coupled with the fact the hamstring injury which was noted during his Buccaneers release has had plenty of time to heal – could help him find a spot ahead of training camps opening around the league.
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley On Career Outlook, Injury History
Several running backs quickly landed free agent deals this offseason, including Saquon Barkley. The six-year Giant joined the Eagles on a deal featuring $26MM fully guaranteed. Lucrative investments at the position are rare in large part due to the risk of injury and the drop in performance seen as running backs age. 
Barkley is entering his age-27 season, a point where many backs struggle to land long-term commitments. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year’s resume also includes a number of injuries, adding to the risk incurred by the Eagles in signing him. Barkley is confident, however, that he will be able to remain productive well into the second chapter of his NFL tenure.
“Marcus Allen played until he was 36, 37 years old,” the former No. 2 pick said (via EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “Barry [Sanders] left at 29, 30 and he left in his prime. It’s what you put in, what you put in is what you get out. That’s any position. There’s this weird thing with running backs right now. Is it a difficult position to play? Yes. Do you take wear and tear? Yes. But who are you or anyone else to tell me how long I can play the game? I call [BS].
“When it’s over for me, it’s over for me. But I feel like if I continue to put the right stuff in my body and do the right things, there will be a day when I’m 32 or 33 and I want to hang it up, and I’m going to do it just because.”
Barkley will be counted on to handle a large workload with the Eagles as their lead back, although the team’s skill position group should lower his usage relative to his Giants tenure. The Penn State product voiced a desire to finish his career in New York, but an offer similar in value to Philadelphia’s did not emerge this offseason. Barkley – who is under contract through 2026 – will need to remain healthy for his Eagles tenure to be productive. After an ACL tear and multiple ankle sprains, questions have been raised about his durability. Barkley does not attribute those to poor conditioning, though, so further injury issues are not a concern on his part.
“I’ve been trying to control everything,” he added. “Like, ‘I have to do this so I won’t get hurt.’ I can’t control that. My three or four injuries I’ve had in the NFL are flukes. There was nothing I could do to change them.”
Plenty of attention will be placed on Barkley’s Philadelphia tenure and his overall longevity. If he manages to produce as expected, his addition will prove to be an effective one from the team’s perspective while allowing him to enjoy a strong second phase in his career.