Patriots Trade WR Boutte to Texans for S Reed

New England dealt WR Kayshon Boutte to Houston for S Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-rounder after.

The New England Patriots are trading wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the pick details. The player-for-player swap came one week after Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending ACL tear, creating an immediate need at the position for Houston.

The trade caught the NFL world off guard because Boutte had developed into a productive contributor for New England, and the Patriots sent him to an AFC contender they could face in the playoffs. ESPN's Mina Kimes wrote that she was "a little surprised they were willing to send him to an AFC contender." Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who arrived in the same 2023 draft class as Boutte, posted on Instagram: "Damnnnn 🤦🏽‍♂️."

Boutte, 24, was a sixth-round pick by the Patriots in the 2023 NFL Draft out of LSU. He appeared in 14 games for New England in 2025, catching 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 16.7 yards per reception, according to Pro Football Network data reported by Yahoo Sports. CBS Sports reported he caught a career-high six touchdowns in 2025. He also added nine postseason catches for 168 yards during the Patriots' AFC Championship run, per 1130 The Tiger.

Boutte's role in New England became uncertain after the Patriots added A.J. Brown via trade and Romeo Doubs in free agency, crowding the receiver room. Bleacher Report noted DeMario Douglas is set for slot duties, Kyle Williams impressed in preseason, and Mack Hollins and Efton Chism III provide depth. Bleacher Report also noted that keeping seven receivers seemed unlikely. Yardbarker reported that Boutte had requested a trade in April, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft labeled the receiver room "pretty full."

The Texans needed another receiver after Higgins' injury left a hole opposite Nico Collins. Yahoo Sports reported Boutte had been linked to the Texans even before the injury, though the sides had previously been too far apart on price. Houston also signed veteran receivers Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard on Friday, per Bleacher Report and Yardbarker. The Texans felt comfortable parting with Reed because they signed Reed Blankenship in free agency and also roster Calen Bullock, Jalen Pitre, M.J. Stewart, and fifth-round rookie Kamari Ramsey, according to Yardbarker.

Boutte enters the final year of his rookie contract and will look to carve out a significant role in Houston's passing attack alongside C.J. Stroud. CBS Sports gave the Texans an "A" grade for the deal, noting Boutte fills Higgins' spot and could aid Stroud's effort to return to his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year form. The Patriots received a "D-" from CBS Sports, which questioned sending an emerging receiver to an AFC competitor. Reed, 23, made one start and appeared in seven games as a rookie, recording 14 tackles and a fumble recovery, per CBS Sports.