Boutte available for trade?

[Rob0729]

Roster spot 53 will not be critical for many months.

If Boutte wants to sit out, that's fine. It won't help him get big money from another team. We'll simply trade him for whatever in late August. I suspect that issue will be solved before camp. Maybe someone will want enough to give us an acceptable pick in July, probably not. But Boutte won't be distraction. He simply isn't important enough to the patriots.

I don't see how his failure to practice will affect the team in any way. Traning camp and the pre-season will simply continue with those who want to play.

It is more about whether he causes locker room problems. And if he going to sit out anyway, why not trade him and get draft compensation.

I posted a video where Mike Giardi said most teams see him as a WR #4 on a good team. Sitting out would only lower his free agency value. So the Pats won't get a compensatory pick for him. Why not get value for him in a trade in this situation?

 

[Wozzy]

Why is management so damn anxious to rid this team of the players who had some actual damn chemistry with this QB?!?

Because the QB can build chemistry with any receiver, and it would be better utilized with someone more talented.

 

[Rob0729]

Sort of Stockholm syndrom-y analysis. I don't know who he called from his car, but he's under contract and it's a business. F-in head case receivers.

What damn incentive does anybody have to honor their contracts when they can just have meltdown calls and get what they want instead?

Put it this way, I'll take that chance vs. the "ultimate sanction" of possibly not getting a 5th for him. Whining at McDaniels or calling Eliot Wolf are little vignettes I'm not familiar with, but one thing is for damn sure, you give one hostage taking head case WR what he wants, you're just teaching the next 3 of them.

I guess if you can't be indispensable, be dispensable and loud about it.

“One day during training camp, we were sitting in a meeting, and I just got up and left. I walked straight out the building. I told our GM that I was done with football. I didn’t want to play anymore. Of course, he called me and tried to convince me to re-think it. Then my agent called me. And I sat in my car and thought about it deep.”

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2026/01/patriots-wr-reveals-he-walked-straight-out-the-building-almost-quit-football-as-a-rookie.html

"I would always go to the sideline and demand the ball... I feel like I shouldn’t have to really ask.”​

Young Patriots WR growing tired of ‘demanding’ the ball

Kayshon Boutte has emerged as one of the Patriots best receivers. He's growing tired of having to ask for the ball.

www.masslive.com

And don't forget he has a gambling addiction that thankfully he seems to have under control, but who knows if he will in the future.

We don't know how much of a headcase this guy might be. The Pats reportedly tried to get rid of him last offseason. Now they look to be trying to do it again this offseason. They probably have real concerns about his commitment to football. You don't constantly dangle a guy in trade if you have confidence in him.

 

[Rob0729]

Why is management so damn anxious to rid this team of the players who had some actual damn chemistry with this QB?!?

Maye had a great chemistry with Diggs, but Diggs is older and fades late in the season. But did he really have great chemistry with Boutte? He had 33 catches in 14 games (ok, really 13 since he went out early in the game he got the concussion).

 

[rkarp1]

Too late: Eliot The **** already has his diapers at his ankles and is simply waiting for 02 June so Howie can anal-rape him for whatever he wants...

yuck. do you always get so horny when you are talking about football players?

 

[A.C Vegas]

Here is what I don't get. why is he the target to trade? He is better then Douglas and hollins. He has the best chemistry with maye it just doesn't not make sense to drop him

 

[Wozzy]

Here is what I don't get. why is he the target to trade? He is better then Douglas and hollins. He has the best chemistry with maye it just doesn't not make sense to drop him

Contract…

They’re probably all potentially traded. Boutte is probably just the loudest in wanting a new contract.
Hollins probably doesn’t care, maybe he knows this is his last season… he’s old.

 

[mgteich]

Maye had a great chemistry with Diggs, but Diggs is older and fades late in the season. But did he really have great chemistry with Boutte? He had 33 catches in 14 games (ok, really 13 since he went out early in the game he got the concussion).

Correct my math if needed, but isn't that less than 3 catches per game?

 

[mgteich]

Here is what I don't get. why is he the target to trade? He is better then Douglas and hollins. He has the best chemistry with maye it just doesn't not make sense to drop him

THESE FOUR ARE STAYING
Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams

THE OPEN QUESTION
is who in the most valuable #5 and/or #6.

If Boutte is willing to contribute competing for targets as the #4/#5 WR, then fine.

The top 4 WR targets in 2025 were
Diggs
Hollins
Boutte/Douglas tied
Williams, Chism had almost no targets

This year, I expect
Brown
Doubs
Hollins
Williams 3-6 targets a game
and the rest fighting for reps

Vrabel had Hollins with many more reps that Boutte in 2025. I see no reason for that to change. I suppose that Boutte could be extended, but I don't think that he would like the salary offerred.

 

[patfanken]

The great chemistry claim is pretty much unfounded. In the end my take on the Boutee thing has evolved into this. The pluses are: He is still very young which is good, He still has upside potential and a 2nd year in the offense should be better. He would provide great depth if there is an injury to either Doubs, or Brown. The negatives are: If AJB comes in, as expected, he is made redundant. Brown and Doubs can do everything he can do, only better. He MIGHT become a problem if B and D are relatively healthy and he doesn't see the field much.

So, if the trade DOES go through, then I would think it might be best for BOTH parties to part ways in a draft for draft capital. If he is part of that trade, then Ok, but it better not be with a #1 pick even if it isn't until '29. If the trade fails, I want him back and see if he elevates his game and his production with more targets and snaps.

 

[patfanken]

THESE FOUR ARE STAYING
Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams

THE OPEN QUESTION
is who in the most valuable #5 and/or #6.

If Boutte is willing to contribute competing for targets as the #4/#5 WR, then fine.

The top 4 WR targets in 2025 were
Diggs
Hollins
Boutte/Douglas tied
Williams, Chism had almost no targets

This year, I expect
Brown
Doubs
Hollins
Williams 3-6 targets a game
and the rest fighting for reps

Vrabel had Hollins with many more reps that Boutte in 2025. I see no reason for that to change. I suppose that Boutte could be extended, but I don't think that he would like the salary offerred.

I agree with your top 4 WR's, but I can't see a scenario where Brown Doubs and Hollins are on the field at the same time. Who is the speed guy, who is twitchy one? No, I see Hollins as depth and back up for D and B and William or Douglas as the 3rd guy in the slot.
(Do Brown and Doubs even have much experience in the slot? Which is important to know in case I'm dead wrong )

I see Brown, Doubs, Williams, Hollins and Douglas as being the WR room this season with Chism and at least 2 of the UDFA's on the PS. Chism could make the 53 if they decide to keep 6 WR's, though secretly I'm hoping Dixon will shock the world and go from an NIA school to an NFL roster in his first try.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Why do I keep seeing that Boutte somehow has the cachet to demand the ball or a trade? Seriously think about how stupid that sounds. When you lose snaps and targets to journeyman Mack Hollins, you'd look like a fool wanting a new contract or force a trade.

This guy averaged 39 yards per game in 2025 and is the absolute last in the NFL at YAC at 1.2. If the Pats were to trade him, he'd be in the exact same situation elsewhere. He's a #3 outside role player guy at best. If he's not circus catching passes from a QB dependent on pin point accuracy, he's not going to be much useful the rest of the game (which we already know). Boutte is in the mold of the LOB era Seahawks WR's who were known as circus catchers, but struggled elsewhere. Malcolm Floyd and James Jones were high point catchers who relied on Rivers and Rodgers putting it where it needed to be. When the games got out of hand, they were easily taken out.

This isn't Emmanuel Sanders in Pittsburgh where even he played out his contract until 2013 and 2014. He could've kicked and screamed to go to NE after Pittsburgh got dirty and matched the Pats offer sheet at the 11th hour on purpose. That was an A hole move by the Steelers.

Boutte's best move is to stay quiet and show why he should get more targets than Doubs or Hollins.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with your top 4 WR's, but I can't see a scenario where Brown Doubs and Hollins are on the field at the same time. Who is the speed guy, who is twitchy one? No, I see Hollins as depth and back up for D and B and William or Douglas as the 3rd guy in the slot.
(Do Brown and Doubs even have much experience in the slot? Which is important to know in case I'm dead wrong )

I see Brown, Doubs, Williams, Hollins and Douglas as being the WR room this season with Chism and at least 2 of the UDFA's on the PS. Chism could make the 53 if they decide to keep 6 WR's, though secretly I'm hoping Dixon will shock the world and go from an NIA school to an NFL roster in his first try.

See attached for Lazar's assessment of Doubs playing in the slot.

Film Review: Breaking Down Reported Additions Romeo Doubs and Alijah Vera-Tucker's Fit in the Patriots Offense

The Patriots reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent WR Romeo Doubs and G Alijah Vera-Tucker, according to multiple reports.

www.patriots.com

I do like your analysis that Douglas would be a good #4/#5.

 

[rkarp1]

when did Brown sign

THESE FOUR ARE STAYING
Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams

THE OPEN QUESTION
is who in the most valuable #5 and/or #6.

If Boutte is willing to contribute competing for targets as the #4/#5 WR, then fine.

The top 4 WR targets in 2025 were
Diggs
Hollins
Boutte/Douglas tied
Williams, Chism had almost no targets

This year, I expect
Brown
Doubs
Hollins
Williams 3-6 targets a game
and the rest fighting for reps

Vrabel had Hollins with many more reps that Boutte in 2025. I see no reason for that to change. I suppose that Boutte could be extended, but I don't think that he would like the salary offerred.

When did Brown sign?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Here is what I don't get. why is he the target to trade? He is better then Douglas and hollins. He has the best chemistry with maye it just doesn't not make sense to drop him

Because the team has talked to Boutte's agent about a contract extension after this year, and the team thinks Boutte's expectations are outside what they are comfortable paying.

 

[Zuma]

Because the team has talked to Boutte's agent about a contract extension after this year, and the team thinks Boutte's expectations are outside what they are comfortable paying.

You always get the inside info…kudos

 

[gobesmug]

Why is management so damn anxious to rid this team of the players who had some actual damn chemistry with this QB?!?

33 catches for 550 yards. Reche Caldwell had more production than that.

I like Boutte but its not like we are moving on from a guy that is on the cusp of being a 1,000 yard reciever.

 

[rkarp1]

You always get the inside info…kudos

he was in the room, so he knows

 

[rkarp1]

33 catches for 550 yards. Reche Caldwell had more production than that.

I like Boutte but its not like we are moving on from a guy that is on the cusp of being a 1,000 yard reciever.

you do realize DIggs got over 100 targets right?
if Boutte got half of those on top of his 46 targets, in theory you could double his production, right?
in that case, does 66 rcpts, 1100 yards and 12 td's work for you?

 

[TommyD4207]

You always get the inside info…kudos

He is right though, they really wanted to do a short-term 2-3 year deal for short money with almost all of it guaranteed, which would have given him the chance to be a true FA at age 26 (and the chance to produce until then), somewhere along the lines of 3/33 with almost all of it guaranteed.

His agent wasn't interested, so they went after Doubs hard in FA.

His agent putting this stuff out there about how he isn't happy, isn't helping his client in the slightest, but it is what it is. Boutte has zero leverage, and he's costing this kid money long term. He'll be lucky to get 3 years 30+ on the open market after next year, now.