New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke about the availability of wide receiver Kayshon Boutte when the coach met with the media on Tuesday afternoon.
The Patriots have begun their voluntary offseason program, and several players have been present. This includes corner Christian Gonzalez. However, Boutte has not been present as trade rumors continue to swirl.
With that being said, Vrabel indicated that he and the wide receiver have had strong communication, with the NFL draft coming up and trade possibilities looming. The LSU product has his own sort of draft history, as he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
The wide receiver had a strong campaign in 2025. He was able to record a career-high in touchdowns. He was able to do so in style, as he recorded 16.7 yards per catch, good enough for fifth in the NFL. The playmaker also made an impact in the postseason. He was able to record 168 receiving yards in the postseason, with his lone touchdown coming against the Houston Texans.
2025 Season Breakthrough For Patriots’ Wideout
The 2025 season was particularly special for him. He started off the season was strong, as he recorded 103 yards in week one against the Las Vegas Raiders. Things looked promising for him until he was sidelined by a hamstring injury mid-season. With that being said, he was able to come in stronger in the back half of the year. Five of his six regular-season touchdowns came over the course of six games.
The strong momentum continued in the playoffs. Boutte was able to record nine passes for 168 yards. Although he did not have a 100-yard receiving game in the playoffs, he did have some memorable performances. He was able to record 66 receiving yards in the postseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, establishing himself as a big-play threat after dealing with injuries.
Patriots Wideout Being Linked As Trade Piece
Now, Boutte is being linked to trade rumors. The wide receiver could be on the move if the Patriots plan to get Philadelphia Eagles star A. J. Brown. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported this on Monday afternoon. The Patriots have remade their receiver room this offseason, adding Romeo Doubs to the mix. Trading away Boutte to get ground would make for a complete overhaul of the roster.
It is certainly not unreasonable to think that Boutte would not be there for workouts. After all, they are voluntary. However, his absence could also mean that he is going to be a trade chip in some aspect. The Patriots will probably have to move a variety of assets in order to get Brown, and Boutte would give the Eagles a player that they could work with. He is a receiver who has recorded over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in his career, and can be a productive playmaker.
It will certainly be a situation with monitoring, as the Patriots begin to take stock of their assets and add more in Thursday’s draft. One has to wonder if Boutte will be the odd man out in a receiver room that is looking to get additional playmakers.
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