The A.J. Brown-New England Patriots trade made life a little more complicated for Kayshon Boutte.
If New England doesn’t feel like the 24-year-old will be an impactful wide receiver with Brown in town, they could agree to explore a trade this offseason. ESPN’s Dan Graziano floated the Washington Commanders as a potential landing spot for the LSU product, and the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi recently revealed the asking price Washington would likely have to meet to acquire him if interested.
"(Boutte) has also made it clear to the team he wouldn’t mind being traded," Giardi wrote Tuesday. "The Pats tried -- and failed -- to make that happen around the NFL draft. Is there a market for him now? League sources believe the best the organization can do is a day-three pick (Rounds 4-7).”
“And maybe even a later one at that. Obviously, all things equal, Boutte could probably find more opportunities -- and targets -- elsewhere. And that still seems to be the most likely of scenarios. Until then, he’s under contract."
Boutte's trade value seems reasonable considering that he’s been solid but not stellar in a Patriots uniform thus far. After an uneventful rookie season (two receptions for 19 yards in five contests), Boutte emerged as a respectable No. 3 receiving option for Drake Maye and the Patriots in Year 2, posting 43 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns.
Although the former sixth-round pick took a step back yards-wise this past season (551), he contributed a career-best six touchdowns on a Patriots squad that reached the Super Bowl. It’s reasonable to assume Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, and the Commanders would welcome Boutte to Washington under the right circumstances, considering they’re receiving core doesn’t stack up terribly well against the rest of the NFC/league.
It’ll be interesting to see if Boutte begins the 2026-27 with the Patriots or an organization like the Commanders.
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