The [New England Patriots](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots) decided to move on from wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in a deal that doesn't come as much of a surprise.
The Patriots sent him to the Houston Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick.
Boutte, who has proven some nice things over the first three years of his NFL career in New England, now has an opportunity to get more touches in Houston. The recently traded Patriots receiver, who starred at LSU, requested a trade during the offseason and said he wanted to go to a team that would give him more playing time.
Questions remained about whether the Patriots would move on from Boutte because of what he means to the team, but according to the latest, New England felt it could move on because of its existing wide receiver depth.
“The Patriots also felt they could afford parting with Boutte because of their wide receiver depth. It seems safe to say they already have six wide receivers who will make the 53-man roster, and keeping Boutte would’ve meant trying to fit seven receivers.
“Instead, the Texans addressed one of their biggest needs, while the Patriots added depth and a draft pick, also freeing a player who was frustrated with his situation,” Chad Graff of The Athletic [wrote](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7535775/2026/08/24/kayshon-boutte-trade-patriots-texans-jaylen-reed/).
Making a trade like this is much easier for New England after it landed A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs during the offseason.
Bringing in star-caliber wide receivers, including a top-five-to-10 one in Brown, made it make too much sense to trade him. The Patriots instead got a player of need at a different position and will hope their offseason moves at wide receiver work out as planned.