Since Mike Vrabel became the head coach of the New England Patriots, the team has engaged in a handful of trades in hopes of improving. They'll attempt to do that again next month with a deal for AJ Brown, as rumors have continued to connect them to the Eagles receiver in the weeks since last month's draft.
Because there is a lot of speculation about what Philadelphia might receive in a return beyond a future first-round pick, there has been increased interest in Kayshon Boutte, who is widely considered the Patriots' best trade chip, whom the Eagles probably have their eye on.
That has been the headline-maker in recent days, and while it's all just speculation at this point, the latest intel from ESPN's Mike Reiss only further suggests that Boutte is likely included in the unofficial trade.
Kayshon Boutte's absence creates a firestorm of rumors about his Patriots' future
In his weekly breakdown of the happenings around the Patriots, Reiss mentioned that Boutte has not been working out at the team facility this offseason and has instead chosen to do so away from the team.
That made headlines earlier this offseason when Boutte was noticeably absent from OTAs, but that was quickly deemed a non-story.
But now that the inevitable trade for Brown is right around the corner, Boutte's lack of interest in offseason activities with the Patriots is fueling more rumors, and, based on some of the proposed trade deals, seeing him included in a package to the Eagles wouldn't be all that surprising.
Although they have added a handful of receivers to their offense this offseason, even drafting Makai Lemon in the first round, it's not outlandish to believe that they would want to add even more talent to the receiving corps if they offload Brown to another team.
Clearly, they are prioritizing building an improved offense around QB Jalen Hurts, and moving on from Brown doesn't help that goal. Adding a player like Boutte would be especially helpful, since his best football appears to be ahead of him.
The Patriots saw glimpses of what he could become in the NFL during the 2025 season, as Boutte made some of the most unbelievable catches of any player on the roster. He started to look like the first-round pick many draft experts anticipated he could be a year before he was drafted, so it would make sense for the Eagles to view him highly.
It would be a loss for the Patriots, but if they don't plan to keep him around beyond the 2026 season, they might as well trade him and get something in return rather than watching him leave in free agency for nothing. And based on his absence, it appears he already knows that, kind of like Brown, who has stayed away from the Eagles this offseason.
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