While his draft stock dipped after an underwhelming 2022, he’s absolutely right to move on and secure a substantial payday.

Per CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, Boutte was “a top contender for the WR1 spot in the 2023 NFL Draft” before the season but had a lackluster season under first-year head coach Brian Kelly and new QB Jayden Daniels.

Smoke began circulating when Boutte announced he wouldn’t be available for the team’s appearance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Purdue. The fire revealed itself on Wednesday.

Boutte broke out with 14 catches, 308 yards and three touchdowns against Ole Miss in the final game of the 2020 season. Over the past two seasons, he played in 17 games, finishing with 86 receptions, 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns.

This season, transfer QB Jayden Daniels and Boutte struggled to get on the same page but Boutte still managed 48 catches, 538 yards and two touchdowns. He had one of his best games against Georgia in the SEC Championship. He finished with six receptions, 107 yards and a touchdown.

LSU has a track record of producing outstanding wide receivers. The program has an argument for the “Wide Receiver U” moniker, given to the college program that’s produced the best pros at the position.

The list includes Dwayne Bowe, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. The school has produced plenty of other receivers with less flashy numbers but long, productive careers including Josh Reed, Michael Clayton, Devery Henderson and Brandon LaFell.

Boutte has the talent to carve out a long career at the next level, just like those that came before him.

With players being able to profit off their name, image and likeness at the college level now, it’s possible players could choose to stay in college instead of moving to the pros at first opportunity. When Boutte made his initial decision to stay at LSU, that appeared to be the case.

Per On3, Boutte has a NIL annual value of $983,000. According to Over The Cap, a player drafted 95th overall in the 2023 draft is due to have a cap number of $985,093 in the first year of an escalating four-year contract.

While the program and fans would certainly have loved for Boutte to stick around, it’s impossible to fault him for taking care of himself with a more lucrative deal. Plus, as the receivers at LSU before him have shown, he might be leaving Baton Rouge, but people will always remember where he came from.