Last week, the Houston Texans lost starting wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL. The Texans responded by signing a pair of veterans to help fill out their depth chart, adding Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard to the roster.
On Monday, the Texans responded with a bigger move, adding a receiver that will replace Higgins in the starting lineup.
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Kayshon Boutte Traded to Houston Texans
Kayshon Boutte, Houston Texans
Jan 18, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Houston Texans in an AFC Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Last year, Higgins ranked second among Texans receivers in yards. Even though Houston will get Tank Dell back from a devastating knee injury, they naturally wanted to find someone who could help replace Higgins’s production in the starting lineup.
On Monday, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reported that the Texans agreed to trade a 2028 seventh-round pick plus safety Jaylen Reed to the New England Patriots in exchange for receiver Kayshon Boutte.
The 24-year-old Boutte is headed into the final year of his rookie contract after arriving as the 187th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s recorded 589 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. Then, he racked up another 551 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
Reed was the 187th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and appeared in seven games, receiving one start. He recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery while playing 73 snaps on defense and 113 more on special teams. Now the 23-year-old heads to New England to improve the depth in Mike Vrabel’s secondary.
After the Patriots traded for A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs, Boutte’s spot with the team came into question this summer. Now the Patriots move forward with Brown, Doubs, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Mack Hollins.
Meanwhile, the Texans will be ready to roll with Nico Collins, Jaylin Noel, Boutte, Xavier Hutchinson, and Lewis Bond. It may not be the receiver group they had in mind when they started training camp, but it’s one that Houston should be able to compete with.