Kayshon Boutte (photoshopped in Texans jersey) and Jaylen Reed (photoshopped in Pats jersey)
Kayshon Boutte (photoshopped in Texans jersey) and Jaylen Reed (photoshopped in Pats jersey)
The NFL regular season is just weeks away, and many teams have already suffered the wrath of injuries during training camp and the preseason. The Houston Texans have had it arguably the worst, as their number two receiver, Jayden Higgins, tore his ACL during joint practices against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The injury clouded Houston's season before it even began. The team had high hopes for their passing attack, but instead found themselves in a place where they needed to add pass catchers, so they traded for Kayshon Boutte. The deal with the New England Patriots cost them Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. So, how do these two teams grade out for this deal?
Texans add a position of need for a good price
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) runs with the ball during training camp at Gillette Stadium.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Unfortunately, injuries at the receiver position have been commonplace for the Texans since C.J. Stroud took over as the team's quarterback. In fact, injuries have played a big part in Stroud's regression in recent years. As a rookie, the Ohio State product joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only players to ever lead the NFL in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio, but his numbers and star power have faded over each of the past two seasons.
Tank Dell just recently returned from a gruesome injury that held him out for all of last season, and Nico Collins has had his fair share of injury problems. Even Stefon Diggs suffered a season-ending injury back during his Texans stint. Higgins' ACL tear was just the latest in a string of unfortunate injury news.
The Texans were hopeful that Stroud would return to rookie form this year, but those dreams faded away when his big-bodied second option got hurt, and it appeared as though the team would again be forced to lean on their defense. The trade for Boutte helps reinstill optimism, though.
Now, fans should temper expectations. The receiver had just 33 receptions for 551 yards last season, despite the fact that there were targets readily available in a relatively thin Patriots' receiving corps, so Boutte is far from a world-beater. It has also become evident that the LSU product will likely never live up to the potential he showed during his collegiate days.
Even so, this was a bargain of a trade for the Texans. The team gave up a fringe roster candidate and a seventh-round pick that won't roll around until 2028 for a proven role player at a position of need. For a team that has a lot of tall, big-bodied possession receivers already, it made sense to get a stout and explosive pass catcher like Boutte.
It is possible that Boutte won't earn a second contract in Houston, but the team added immediate depth while giving up very little. That alone is a win, but perhaps the newest Texan will put up big numbers in his new offense.
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Grade: A-
Patriots' return for Kayshon Boutte underwhelms
The Patriots' receiving corps went from weak to deep when they added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs in the offseason. Those moves made Boutte expendable in the eyes of New England's decision makers, but the Patriots would have been better off holding onto the receiver for the price they received in this haul.
While the Patriots' receiver depth chart also includes Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, and Mack Hollins, the team's receiving corps can still be described as mediocre. Plus, Boutte has proven chemistry with Drake Maye. The duo was particularly impressive together during Maye's rookie season.
With the young quarterback already in MVP conversations, it would have made sense to surround him with as many weapons as possible. The main piece New England returned in the Boutte trade was Reed, a safety who was drafted in the sixth round last year. He played in seven games and had 14 tackles last season. Reed is a versatile player who will surely make New England's roster, but he may have a minimal role with the Patriots this season.
The good news is that the Patriots will have him under contract for two more seasons after this one, and adding a worthwhile developmental piece may be better than watching Boutte ride the bench and leave in the offseason. Even so, this trade return has to be looked at as underwhelming, and the Patriots get a grade of a C+.