The Patriots' wide receiver room already looks better than last season. Following the off-season addition of Stefon Diggs, who was signed to a three-year, $63.5 million deal, head coach Mike Vrabel and his front office may have more moves lined up ahead of the NFL Draft, which starts today.
According to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, the team is open to trading players from previous head coach Jerrod Mayo’s regime, and one of the players to keep an eye on is former LSU Tiger Kayshon Boutte.
One projected scenario involves a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, who currently hold the No. 108 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Patriots could send Boutte to Las Vegas in exchange for the 108th pick—a fourth-round selection that would provide New England with a valuable day-three asset.
Patriots Trade Projection Sends Kayshon Boutte to Raiders
Boutte arrived at LSU as a five-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. During his three seasons in Baton Rouge, Boutte amassed 131 receptions for 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns. These statistics were good enough for the Patriots to select Kayshon with their sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Boutte’s best season with the Pats came during the 2024 season when he had 43 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns.
Per NBC Sports Boston, Kayshon Boutte would be the fifth wide receiver on the team’s depth chart behind Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and offseason addition Mack Hollins. As a result, the Patriots could look to trade the former five-star recruit who still has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
From the Raiders’ perspective, this trade makes sense as they look to improve their receiving depth and add a young player with upside. Acquiring Boutte would represent a clear upgrade over Ramel Keyton, who is currently projected as the team's third starting receiver. Boutte, while still developing, offers more athletic upside and playmaking ability than Keyton and could potentially blossom in a new system.
This move offers Las Vegas a low-risk, high-reward move. With Tre Tucker showing flashes as a speed threat and Jakobi Meyers proving as a reliable possession receiver, Boutte can be that third receiver in multiple receiver sets who can stretch the field and take the top off of defenses.
If the Patriots opt to trade Boutte, they should expect a day-three draft pick, probably in the fourth or fifth round, in return. This pick could help the team address other needs, particularly at running back.
One potential target could be former Georgia Bulldog, Trevor Etienne. In his last season with Georgia, Etienne contributed on the ground (609 yards and nine touchdowns) and in the passing game (32 receptions for 194 yards).
Adding a versatile running back like Etienne to a Josh McDaniels offense would work wonders for the Patriots and could give the team a dynamic, cost-controlled offensive weapon for years to come.
As the draft unfolds, all eyes will be on New England to see whether Boutte remains part of the team’s future or becomes a trade chip to help reshape it.