Just weeks ahead of the start of training camp, there is a lot of chatter about whether the Patriots will make any more moves to improve their roster, including trading one of their more desirable players to another team.
Perhaps the most discussed of all has been wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason. For the most part, there hasn't been a strong indication that the team plans to move on from him any time soon. In fact, Josh McDaniels had Boutte running as the WR2 alongside A.J. Brown in the final days of minicamp.
But that doesn't mean a trade won't happen, especially if a strong offer is made. And there are a handful of teams still linked to the receiver, with the latest being the Washington Commanders.
Given that they have been in the mix for Stefon Diggs and, most notably, a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, it's unsurprising that they are now being suggested as a team to call about Boutte. That gives the Patriots a new option to consider, even if many fans don't want to see Boutte leave.
A major fallout with Brandon Aiyuk could put the Commanders on the Patriots' radar
While going over a trade that every team in the league should make ahead of the 2026 season, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton suggests the Commanders call up the Patriots about Boutte's availability.
He believes they could get a deal done by sending a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England for the receiver, and considering he was a sixth-round selection in 2024, it would be nice compensation for the Patriots.
If they don't have long-term plans for him in their offense, since he is about to play on the final year of his rookie contract, then there's no reason Eliot Wolf should shy away from this conversation.
Although Boutte has proven to be an asset for Drake Maye and his ceiling will presumably only increase now that A.J. Brown is on the roster, it would be better to trade him now if they don't intend to keep him beyond the upcoming season. So if the Commanders are interested, they should take them up on their offer.
There might be a chance they could get an even better deal, maybe a fourth-round pick, due to Boutte's age and potential alone, whether that's from Washington or another team. That helps make up for some of the picks they have already lost, while getting some sort of return on a player they would otherwise watch leave in free agency next spring.
At the very least, it's something Wolf should consider, and he should keep the Commanders on the short list of teams to call since they appear to have lost interest in trading for Brandon Aiyuk.
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