The New England Patriots bolstered their receiving room following Monday's A.J. Brown trade, but it looks like to get something, you may have to give something... even if it's after the fact.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte is "interested in a trade" this offseason. And, given that he is entering the final year of his rookie deal, there are reasons to believe that the LSU alum has already played his last game in New England.
“One wide receiver I’m still suspecting that something might happen with is Kayshon Boutte," Schefter said on 'The Adam Schefter Podcast'. "He has not been there for the offseason program. He has been interested in a trade. I would think that at some point this summer, we may get action there. Another deal, Kayshon Boutte, going somewhere else. We’ll see how that works out.”
Trading Kayshon Boutte could make sense for the Patriots
Boutte has been spectacular over the past couple of seasons for New England, and he has arguably been Drake Maye's favorite target since he took over as its quarterback (Boutte caught his first career touchdown in the NFL, and his six touchdowns last season were the second-most on the team, only behind Hunter Henry's seven).
However, with Brown (and Romeo Doubs, an up-and-comer in Kyle Williams, and potentially Stefon Diggs... again) in the fold, there isn't much more room for the 24-year-old to grow with the team. He's realistically never going to have the opportunity to become the No. 1 or even No. 2 guy in New England at this point, and it might not make any sense for either side to agree to an extension this offseason.
Plus, trading Boutte would allow the Patriots to recoup some of the assets after they sent a 2028 first- and 2027 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the Brown deal.
There's a lot to like about the Louisiana native and his resilience. He was a sixth-round pick in 2023 (though he had the talent to get drafted earlier, his character concerns and poor draft combine didn't help his cause), and he was immediately in Bill Belichick's doghouse after he failed to stay in bounds late in the Patriots' season-opening loss against the Philadelphia Eagles that same year (he had four targets that game and just three the rest of the season).
But at this point, it seems that his time in New England is coming to an end, which might end up being the best move for both parties anyway.
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