Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte
The New England Patriots are trading WR Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans in exchange for SAF Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix.
Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports. pic.twitter.com/NZXCdOX4RT
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 24, 2026
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the draft pick heading to New England is a 2028 seventh-round pick.
Trade: The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick, as @TomPelissero reported. pic.twitter.com/Z5W8sLkjuR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2026
Boutte had been mentioned in trade conversations ever since the Patriots acquired WR A.J. Brown via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. With the team also signing WR Romeo Doubs this offseason, Boutte had been pushed down the depth chart, and the Steelers’ Week 2 opponent adds a safety in Reed who can help their secondary.
The Texans were comfortable offloading Reed from their loaded secondary, and he’ll join a Patriots team that lost Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency. Reed was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and made nine tackles his rookie season for the Texans. This morning, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI via ESPN’s Mike Reiss that he didn’t feel the Patriots were a very deep team, and now they add a key depth player with high draft pedigree in Reed.
In his Monday appearance on @TheGregHillShow, Mike Vrabel was asked about post-game remarks when he said “I do not think we have a very deep team” (specifically regarding the topic of QB Drake Maye and starters possibly playing in the preseason).
Vrabel was asked if that was a…
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 24, 2026
Houston had been in the market for receiver help since last week, when they lost WR Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL in a joint practice. Higgins will be sidelined for the season, and Boutte adds depth behind Nico Collins, joining the likes of Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell (though Dell could miss time at the start of the season as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered in the 2024 season). The Steelers will play the Texans in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football.
Boutte has put together back-to-back solid seasons for New England. While his receptions dropped from 43 to 33 between 2024 and 2025, his yardage total was similar, with 551 yards last year compared to 589 in 2024. His touchdowns also increased from three to six.
Reed broke a metal plate in his forearm and also suffered a knee injury in Week 13 last season, but he’s currently healthy and should factor at safety for the Patriots. Currently, New England is starting Craig Woodson, who played well as a rookie, and free agent pickup Kevin Byard. Reed will likely serve as New England’s third safety.
In Houston, he was behind Calen Bullock and Jalen Pitre, and the Texans have veteran MJ Stewart at safety, along with rookie Kamari Ramsey, making it easier for them to deal Reed.
It’s a beneficial trade for both sides, adding players at positions of need. The Steelers were slated to play both Boutte and Reed, and now they’ll see them in new homes.