Kayshon Boutte’s time in New England is coming to an end. A name that is frequently mentioned in trade conversations, the fourth-year receiver is indeed being traded. Boutte is being traded from the Patriots to the Texans, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports. In exchange, Houston will send safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick to New England. The pick in question is a 2028 seventh-rounder, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds.
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In the wake of Jayden Higgins suffering a torn ACL, the Texans began reaching out to teams to explore trade targets. Boutte was one of them, so today’s move is not a surprise. Houston also hosted workouts with veteran receivers Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard last week. Both reached agreements and Boutte is now the latest newcomer to the WR position. This deal ends months of speculation about the Patriots taking advantage of their new surplus of wide receivers. Boutte had been mentioned in trade rumors during the offseason, as the Patriots were the favorites for AJ Brown for an extended period prior to his June 1 trade with the Eagles. New England had added Romeo Doubs in free agency before Brown’s move, leaving Boutte with an uncertain path to regular playing time. Boutte trade rumors date back to at least the spring of 2025, when a rumor surfaced just before the draft about Boutte’s availability. That news came after the Pats signed former Texans player Stefon Diggs. However, a Pats team that had aggressively sought help over multiple offseasons stuck with Boutte and saw the 5-foot-11 receiver rack up 551 yards on 33 receptions last season. Boutte then added a spectacular touchdown grab in the Pats’ divisional round victory over the Texans. Just before the 2026 draft, a rumor surfaced that New England was seeking a Day 3 pick for Boutte, a 2023 sixth-round pick, and after the Brown trade became official, it emerged that Boutte was interested in transferring. Robert Kraft called the Pats’ receivers room “pretty full” and a rumor emerged that the team wanted to do the right thing with Boutte. With DeMario Douglas also a contract-year receiver depth piece, the Texans will bring in the LSU product to play his platform year in Houston. Boutte, who gained a career-high 589 yards during Drake Maye’s rookie season in 2024, joins a Texans receiving corps that still had reasonable depth after Higgins’ injury. Jaylin Noel and the returning Tank Dell complement No. 1 option Nico Collins in a passing attack that also features tight end Dalton Schultz. Houston also employs veteran receiver Justin Watson to partner Xavier Hutchinson and sixth-round rookie Lewis Bond. However, Dell is not guaranteed to be ready for Week 1; that possibly contributed to this trade agreement. On more stable ground at safety to start the week, the Texans felt comfortable parting ways with Reed, a 2025 sixth-round pick. Reed played in seven games last season, starting one. He will likely compete with Dell Pettus, the Pats’ top safety backup, notes ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. The Pats lost Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency, but reunited Mike Vrabel with ex-Titans Kevin Byard. He and Craig Woodson are the Pats’ starting safeties. Houston is in good shape at safety, having signed Reed Blankenship in free agency. The team also has rising talent Calen Bullock at the position, and Jalen Pitre has considerable experience there; Houston has used the former second-rounder at the position in recent years. The Texans also signed MJ Stewart in free agency this year and used a fifth-round pick on safety Kamari Ramsey, filling his spot. While Reed is signed through the 2028 season, it appears Boutte will play out one year of his contract before a free agency offer in 2027. The Texans have Dell in a walk year, but both Higgins and Noel are locked up through 2028. Collins is signed through 2027 on an updated deal this offseason. Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
