It was a controversial move for the New England Patriots to trade Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans just before the start of the season. He had built great rapport with Drake Maye (who had already lost Stefon Diggs in the offseason), the Patriots got what most considered to be an underwhelming return (Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick), and he was still on his rookie contract through this season.
But in a weird way, it's almost like the Patriots are winning this trade. Or, at the very least, they're not losing in the way everybody anticipated they probably would (even factoring in A.J. Brown's disappointing start in New England and Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins being on the IR).
Kayshon Boutte has been a nonfactor in Houston
Many expected the LSU alum to have a real opportunity to prove his worth during his contract year with the Texans. They needed another wide receiver to line up opposite Nico Collins after Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in August, and Boutte fit the bill as someone who has established himself as a solid deep threat.
That hasn't happened. At all.
Through seven games, Boute has recorded 15 receptions on 23 targets for 194 yards and no touchdowns. He didn't step up when Collins missed Weeks 2 and 3 this season due to a hamstring injury (Boutte recorded five receptions on seven targets for 58 yards in those games). He played just five snaps during the Texans' overtime loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. And he keeps dropping down the depth chart.
In addition to Collins, the Texans traded for Marvin Harrison Jr. (college teammate of CJ Stroud; scored a six-yard touchdown in his first game with the team) and got Tank Dell back after missing nearly two years due to multiple knee injuries (recorded one reception for 43 yards against the Giants), and Xavier Hutchinson has been utilized more than Boutte has.
There's a lot of football left, but as it stands, it would be a complete surprise if Boutte returns to Houston in the offseason (if the team doesn't trade him by then).
Patriots are doing fine with Kayshon Boutte
They're not doing great, but they're not doing too bad either.
Yes, Brown has been a disappointment (I'm not giving up on him yet; he just returned from an injury and is still finding his groove with his new team). Yes, Doubs is on the injured reserve (he was looking solid before the injury and should be a real asset when he returns). And yes, Hollins is on the injured reserve (will definitely have a big role when he returns; he was clearly Maye's favorite target early in the season). But the Patriots are going to be fine without Boutte.
Efton Chism III (clutch performance against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4; five receptions for 57 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5) and DeMario Douglas (14 receptions on 17 targets for 174 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games) are coming alive in New England.
Plus, the Patriots used the seventh-round pick they got from Houston to acquire Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals, and he has looked impressive in recent games. (Reed has mostly been a non-factor)
Boutte was a good player for the Patriots, but it's tough to say they should regret the trade at this point (remember, Mike Vrabel already said the 24-year-old likely would have been inactive on game days if he had stayed because he doesn't play special teams). Things are working out much better for them than they are for him, and given how everybody reacted to the trade when it happened, this is a big surprise.
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