Monday, we received the breaking news that Kayshon Boutte would be traded to the Texans for Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. For more NFL breakdowns, check out this article by us here.
Trades at this point in the NFL calendar year are typically for players who ultimately aren’t that impactful on their new team. Yet this isn’t the case with Houston trading for Boutte.
Boutte was available for trade in the first place because the Patriots really didn’t need him. New England this offseason invested heavily in upgrading their wide receiver room.
In free agency, they signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract with $39 million guaranteed. Later on this offseason, they would also trade for star wide receiver AJ Brown.
Sending the Eagles a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in return for Brown. Those moves set in stone New England’s two outside starting wide receiver positions, and in the slot they already had DeMario “Pop” Douglas occupying this position.
But the Patriots on the roster also have Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams. Hollins, who’s an outside receiver as well, has a role for New England, where he provides value as an outside receiver with a large frame that’s a good blocker in the run game and on screens. Williams primarily plays on the outside and provides his value as a vertical deep threat.
This left Boutte with the option to only play a handful of snaps per game. You combine that with this season being the last year of Boutte’s rookie deal, it made sense for New England to trade him away and get draft compensation in return. Instead of letting him leave for nothing and become a free agent in the offseason.
This past season showcased how Boutte can contribute to a contender. With his ability to win on the outside, leverage his speed and deep ball-tracking ability to make explosive plays down the field, being successful. This past season, the former sixth-round pick on 46 targets produced 33 receptions, 551 receiving yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns.
In addition, to recording an average depth of target of 17 yards, ranking 6th out of 133 qualifying wide receivers. During the Patriots’ playoff run, he came up huge in the wildcard and divisional round.
Delivering four catches on four targets for 66 yards and three catches on five targets for 75 yards and one touchdown. Specifically against Houston in the divisional his touchdown was a one-handed catch on third and five, on a go ball against one of the elite corners in the league, Derek Stingley. This touchdown effectively was the dagger for New England winning the game.
Before trading for Boutte, the Texans’ wide receiver room outside of Nico Collins was filled with question marks. Jayden Higgins, who was projected to be their starting outside receiver opposite of Collins, tore his ACL last week in their joint practice with the Raiders.
It’s still up in the air whether Tank Dell will or won’t play this season. He was seen doing team drills and practice reps with the offense earlier this month. Yet according to recent reports from veteran Texans beat reporter John McClain, Dell is nowhere near ready to play this season.
Xavier Hutchinson ideally should be their first backup outside receiver, and Jaylin Noel largely plays in the slot. Hutchinson had 35 catches, 428 receiving yards, and three touchdowns this past season.
In regard to Noel, this previous season he delivered only 26 receptions, 292 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Relying on both of them to produce at full-time starter level this season is too much of a gamble.
Boutte comes in and gives a shaky Houston wide receiver room not only some stability, but another receiver that can break the game open outside of Collins.
Boutte’s presence as a deep threat doesn’t allow defenses to fully blanket Collins and know, in part, that the Texans’ passing attack will falter. Because if they do, Boutte is more than capable of winning on the outside and delivering an explosive chunk down the field for a touchdown or placing Houston in a better scoring opportunity.
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