The New England Patriots made several additions to the receiver room that featured A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. That didn't sit well with Kayshon Boutte, as he requested a trade back in April.
Despite that being public knowledge, the Patriots don't seem fazed. ESPN's Mike Reiss was a guest on The Pat McAfee Show and expressed that Boutte is still expected to have a prominent role in this offense, but that doesn't mean he can't be moved for the right price.
"I talked to some people inside the Patriots, and they tell me, ‘Boutte’s gonna be a big part of what we do.’ I think where that could become a little bit of a challenge is if another team does come calling and is willing to give them something of significance," Reiss said.
From the sound of things, if New England doesn't get the offer that they want, they'll keep Boutte around for 2026.
Patriots' plans for Kayshon Boutte remain unchanged after trade request
It isn't a shocker that Boutte wants to head elsewhere, given that he's going into a contract year. He's easily behind Brown and Doubs on the totem pole and knows that can impact his ability to land a lucrative payday.
At the same time, if no one meets New England's price, they'll easily keep him. He's been one of their most productive players this summer as well. Boutte has found his way to create several big plays, consistently putting his connection with Drake Maye on display.
And that was just a continuation of what happened last season. In 2025, Boutte led all Patriots receivers in touchdowns (6) while securing 33 catches for 551 yards. He has shown that he can make plays for this offense, and if he's around, New England will use him.
The Patriots aren't just going to hand away a good player for nothing, and this could be another way to boost his value around the league. New England has a packed receiver room that features Pop Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III, aside from the aforementioned Brown and Doubs.
That's a good problem to have for New England, as Maye will have a bunch of options to throw the ball to. Boutte's future in New England looks murky, but from the sound of things, he'll be on the team this fall if no one meets their price point. And if so, he'll be a featured option in the pass game.
How much, though, remains a valid question. There are only so many snaps available in a game, and with multiple guys fighting for reps, Boutte won't get the full layout of snaps that he's gotten in the past. For the past two years, Boutte has played in at least 67 percent of the snaps, but there's no guarantee he'll hit that mark again, even with the comments being made.
Regardless, New England plans to craft a way to get Boutte involved if he's on the roster.
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