Mike Vrabel offered a brutal assessment of Houston Texans wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, with the New England head coach making his feelings clear after the deal
Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots speaks during a press conference
Mike Vrabel made a brutal admission about Kayshon Boutte's trade to Houston(Image: Getty Images)
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Mike Vrabel has delivered a blunt message to the Houston Texans about wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Boutte was one of the New England Patriots’ most consistent receiving targets last season, but his future with the team was already in doubt heading into the new campaign. Following New England’s 37-13 preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Patriots head coach was asked about the Patriots’ decision to trade Boutte to the Houston Texans earlier in the week.
The fourth-year receiver was sent to Houston in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a future seventh-round pick. Reed did not feature in the preseason finale.
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Vrabel then made a surprising admission about Boutte’s potential role in the Patriots’ offense had the receiver remained in New England for Week 1.
"It was one place where we do have some depth and, I think for all parties involved, that was probably the best thing," Vrabel said. "Without injuries, Kayshon probably would have been inactive. Unfortunately, that just, it’s kind of the way it was. It’s just with him not playing special teams."
Boutte, 24, finished last season with 551 receiving yards and a career-best six touchdowns, emerging as Drake Maye’s preferred deep threat and quickly becoming a fan favorite. However, despite a strong training camp, Boutte appeared to fall down the depth chart behind Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism III.
With the receiver entering a contract year, there were already questions over whether he would remain in New England beyond the 2026 season, even if his trade did come as a shock to NFL fans.
Kayshon Boutte celebrates beating the Houston Texans
The Patriots traded Boutte to the Texans earlier this week(Image: Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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Vrabel did say he tried to thank Boutte "as many times as he could," given the circumstances surrounding his trade. "I’ve tried to thank Kayshon as many times as I could. I texted him again today," Vrabel added.
"Just his maturity, his growth, his ability to put into words last year and share his own personal struggle, but also the growth that he made from that, that’s positively going to affect a lot of people. I know that that wasn’t easy for him to do. And I tell him all the time about how much I respect him for being able to do that."
Vrabel was referring to Boutte’s decision to publicly discuss his gambling addiction, which began during his time at LSU. The former Tigers receiver, who set an SEC record with 308 receiving yards against Ole Miss as a freshman, later developed a betting addiction after suffering an ankle injury during his sophomore season.
Boutte will now look to revive his career in Houston, where he has the opportunity to line up alongside Nico Collins and establish himself as a key part of the Texans’ receiving corps.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are expected to enter Week 1 with Brown, Doubs, Mack Hollins, Williams, Douglas, and Chism as their six primary wide receivers.
Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, Cameron Dorner, and Tejhaun Palmer also remain on the roster ahead of Sunday’s final cuts, with New England facing further decisions before the 53-man roster is set.