Patriots trade Kayshon Boutte to Texans

Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason. Back in June, the Commanders and Raiders were linked to him in an ESPN report. Nothing has come to fruition thus far, and Boutte has received positive reviews throughout training camp. The Athletic’s Chad Graff described him as the camp “star” earlier this month. The Texans are attempting to improve their wide receiver corps after losing WR Jayden Higgins to an ACL tear recently. Fellow second-year wide receiver Jaylin Noel has also been dealing with finger and hamstring injuries. Boutte would give the Texans a solid vertical element if he ends up in Houston. He might warrant FLEX treatment in the right matchup.

Boutte, according to Patriots beat writers and coaches, has functioned as Drake Maye’s favorite target, especially downfield, while A.J. Brown struggles to connect with Maye while dealing with consistent coverage from all-pro CB Christian Gonzalez. “If [Boutte] keeps this up, he’s either increasing his value on the trade market or playing his way into a meaningful role with the Pats,” Graff said. Boutte had been rumored as a trade candidate after the Patriots acquired Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason. He should be drafted in all 12-team fantasy formats in the coming weeks.

Boutte has been getting behind the Patriots’ defense thus far, maintaining the positive downfield play he demonstrated last season. The fourth-year wide receiver was the subject of trade rumors earlier this offseason. Training camp hype could get that news cycle going again. That said, having a deep receiving corps is a great problem to have. If Boutte is willing to buy into a rotational WR3/4 role behind WR1 A.J. Brown and WR2 Romeo Doubs, keeping Boutte in a Patriots uniform could be best for all involved. It will be very difficult for him to warrant FLEX treatment in re-draft formats with his current squad, though.

Boutte wouldn’t seem to have a real role with the Patriots after they acquired A.J. Brown on June 1 — one could argue the most surprising thing about that deal going down is the fact that Boutte wasn’t involved in it. Boutte is reportedly available in a trade, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported last week that the Patriots have received interest. It’s in Boutte’s financial best interests to show up.

Boutte remains away from the team and is interested in being traded, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 24-year-old former sixth-round pick is in the last year of his contract and with the Patriots adding A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason, the writing is on the wall. Graziano mentions the Commanders and Raiders as teams that could be looking for receiver help.

Boutte has been the subject of offseason trade talks and could soon be on the verge of getting replaced if the Patriots acquire A.J. Brown from the Eagles in the coming weeks. Boutte, 24, is in the final year of his rookie contract and caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season. He has served primarily as a field stretcher for the Patriots over the last two seasons, and had the highest ADOT (17.5) of any pass catcher on the team last season who had 30 or more targets. We’ll see if Boutte reports when mandatory activities begin.

“Neither side is committed to it, but both I believe are expected to make it happen ... It’s not going to be hard to get done. The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I believe in the end it will involve a future first-round draft pick. My guess is 2028,” Schefter told the man who only wears tank tops. It makes sense that the 2027 first-round pick would be off limits as it’s expected to be a much better and deeper draft class. The Athletic’s Chad Graff filed a post-draft 53-man roster projection in which Kayshon Boutte is a “substitution for ... Brown” and believes Boutte is the “most likely receiver to head to Philadelphia in a trade.” We still have another month before this can finally just happen.

After redshirting much of his rookie season, Boutte has totaled 76 receptions for 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons while playing primarily as a deep threat on the outside. Boutte posted a 33-551-6 line last season on 46 targets, and among players with at least 45 targets, his 17.5 ADOT ranked third-highest in the league behind Alec Pierce (20.0) and Christian Watson (18.0). The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs earlier this offseason and remain the frontrunners to trade for A.J. Brown this summer. Should Brown land with the Pats, Boutte could become an expendable player with some trade value as he looks to impress in the final year of his rookie deal in hopes of securing a new contract next offseason.

The down-field opportunities just weren’t there for a Patriots offense that got dominated whistle to whistle. Boutte’s 33/551/6 statline mostly repeated his 2024 marks, though he doubled his touchdowns and added three yards to his YPC (16.7). Boutte was a legit role-playing weapon down the field for the Pats’ rotational receiver corps. That’s despite Mack Hollins serving much the same role. Hollins is signed for 2026 but is going on 33 and is more known for his blocking than pass catching. There should be an opportunity for 24-year-old (in May) Boutte to take another step forward in the final year of his rookie deal, though he seems to be maxing out as a situational deep threat. He should be rostered in dynasty, but is not the highest-upside option despite his relative youth and elite quarterback play.

Boutte’s one reception came late in the second quarter after the Patriots forced a turnover of Jarrett Stidham. His short-reception helped set up Drake Maye for a six-yard touchdown run on the following play, but Boutte, like the rest of the Patriots’ offense, struggled to get anything going in this one. His six targets tied Stefon Diggs for the team lead on Sunday and marked the second-straight week in which he saw five or more targets. Boutte and the Patriots will now prepare to head to San Francisco where they will face an NFC opponent to be named later in the Super Bowl.