The AJ Brown trade rumors have started to heat up as the NFL Draft approaches, and that means more conversation about what the Patriots will ultimately give up to get a deal done, which could include more than just future draft picks.
There has been speculation that they could include a player, specifically a wide receiver, and the name that has been thrown in a lot has been Kayshon Boutte.
The 2023 sixth-round pick is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, so the Patriots will have to decide if they want to keep him around or trade him when he has value to get a return before he walks in free agency for nothing.
He could easily be part of a trade for Brown, and according to the latest rumors from NFL insiders like Jordan Schultz, the team is already exploring the possibility of moving Boutte, right as talks with the Eagles are becoming more real.
A name that has come up in trade talks is #Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, who is entering the final year of his contract, according to multiple league sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 20, 2026
With Romeo Doubs coming in and the eventual AJ Brown trade, teams believe he could be available for the right price. pic.twitter.com/72kYySVxKL
This could make a lot of sense for both sides, particularly if the Patriots have no interest in offering Boutte an extension in 2027.
Kayshon Boutte's future with the Patriots doesn't look so clear
Given what the Eagles would be giving up by trading Brown, it makes a lot of sense for them to want a wide receiver in return, especially one who has shown a lot of progression through his career so far.
On the other hand, however, they have added a handful of pass catchers so far this offseason, so there is certainly a chance they won't ask for another in return.
That would be good news for Boutte, if he wants to remain in New England, but not necessarily great news for Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf, who would likely want to include a player to give up less draft capital.
The hope has been not to include a high-round pick from next year's draft class, as most analysts have called it one of the best incoming groups in the last few years. Although we can't predict where the Patriots will land in the first round, it appears best that they keep that selection rather than give it up.
They could accomplish that by trading Boutte, which might be the best scenario for all involved. There's a chance that the Eagles will offer him an extension, too, and based on what we've seen from Boutte over the last few years, it would be deserved.
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