PATRIOTS TRAINING CAMP 2026 Patriots Training Camp Day 4

[Gumby]

I don’t think they’ll be offered good enough value.

We should be prepared for great disappointment about the compensation if he is traded.

Im willing to guess that somewhen between mid-season 26 and TC 2027 that two things happen in whatever sequence:
- Boutte is extended
- Doubs is traded.

I am so far not seeing the 1A up-comer / replacement in case AJB trade doesn’t happen in Doubs that he was billed to be. Trends can change, maybe he ain’t 100% or just doesn’t have that THANG with Drake yet (cause Drake is focused ob AJ maybe). But that is my crystal ball right now.

 

[Wozzy]

I don’t think they’ll be offered good enough value.

We’ll see…

We should be prepared for great disappointment about the compensation if he is traded.

Only those with unrealistic expectations, realists who understand market value will understand.

 

[Family]

I don’t think they’ll be offered good enough value.

We should be prepared for great disappointment about the compensation if he is traded.

Why would a team pay much when there are still reasonable FA options available like Diggs and Keenan Allen?

Teams also want to look at their youngsters in camp.

If they don't flinch Boutte's value will go up.

There's no reason to do anything. He can fit on the 53 easily.

 

[n1997y]

We’ll see…

Only those with unrealistic expectations, realists who understand market value will understand.

So most of PatsFans? Seems everybody on here is either unrealistically optimistic or unrealistically pessimistic, often both at the same time (but thankfully usually about different things).

 

[Wozzy]

So most of PatsFans? Seems everybody on here is either unrealistically optimistic or unrealistically pessimistic, often both at the same time (but thankfully usually about different things).

Nah, it’s okay to be a pragmatic centrist, there’s a few of us.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I still think he’ll be traded, but could be wrong.

At least you've moved off your certainty stance which is something.
Here's the rub, you say they would have to cut promising WRs which makes no sense if we aren't paying Boutte. It makes sense for 2026, a year where we have very high hopes.
Honest question, which WRs are you referring to?
If we kept 6, we could assume:
AJ
Doubs
Boutte
KW
Hollins (he could be a surprise cut, but I would not like that).
Pop
So that means Chism and our UDFAs are destined for the PS or cut outright.
But here's the thing, they are all UDFAs. There is a reason they were undrafted. They have potential yes, but they also need growth and chances are far more likely than not that they never amount to much in the NFL.
These UDFA types with potential are available every year. Next year we will be reading about our 2027 UDFA WR crop that have potential and are making plays in camp.
Boutte could very well be traded, but considering the comp, it would not make sense for 2026.

 

[Wozzy]

At least you've moved off your certainty stance which is something.
Here's the rub, you say they would have to cut promising WRs which makes no sense if we aren't paying Boutte. It makes sense for 2026, a year where we have very high hopes.
Honest question, which WRs are you referring to?

If you want 6 and insist I keep Hollins:

BIG WR – AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Dixon (PS),
FAST WR – Kyle Williams, Nick DeGennaror (PS),
SLOT WR – Demario Douglas, Efton Chism, Cameron Dorner (PS),

But I still think DeGennaro or Dorner are going to look so good this offseason it will make it difficult to slide them to the practice squad without someone else noticing.

So that means Chism and our UDFAs are destined for the PS or cut outright.
But here's the thing, they are all UDFAs. There is a reason they were undrafted. They have potential yes, but they also need growth and chances are far more likely than not that they never amount to much in the NFL.

There is a reason Wes Welker, Rod Smith and Elijah Ponder went undrafted… it didn’t stop them from looking so impressive their team couldn’t cut them.

These UDFA types with potential are available every year. Next year we will be reading about our 2027 UDFA WR crop that have potential and are making plays in camp.
Boutte could very well be traded, but considering the comp, it would not make sense for 2026.

Undrafted guys are available every year, but they’re not always good. One of these guys might become better than Boutte.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

If you want 6 and insist I keep Hollins:

BIG WR – AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Dixon (PS),
FAST WR – Kyle Williams, Nick DeGennaror (PS),
SLOT WR – Demario Douglas, Efton Chism, Cameron Dorner (PS),

But I still think DeGennaro or Dorner are going to look so good this offseason it will make it difficult to slide them to the practice squad without someone else noticing.

There is a reason Wes Welker, Rod Smith and Elijah Ponder went undrafted… it didn’t stop them from looking so impressive their team couldn’t cut them.

Undrafted guys are available every year, but they’re not always good. One of these guys might become better than Boutte.

I agree that UDFAs can be good NFL players.
We have had great success with them over the years.
Always a balance when considering short/long term roster balance.
We have a good team, maybe a great team and we are legitimate SB contenders.
With that in mind, I believe (I could be wrong) that our 2026 roster needs will trump 2027 and beyond when it comes to determining our 6 WRs (I believe we roll with 6).
So I expect Boutte to remain with us unless a trade materializes that blows us away. To me that would be a 3rd, or a player at a position of need that will be a serious 2026 contributor. I just don't see that trade materializing, but ya never know considering injuries at WR with other teams.

 

[Wozzy]

I agree that UDFAs can be good NFL players.
We have had great success with them over the years.
Always a balance when considering short/long term roster balance.
We have a good team, maybe a great team and we are legitimate SB contenders.
With that in mind, I believe (I could be wrong) that our 2026 roster needs will trump 2027 and beyond when it comes to determining our 6 WRs (I believe we roll with 6).
So I expect Boutte to remain with us unless a trade materializes that blows us away. To me that would be a 3rd, or a player at a position of need that will be a serious 2026 contributor. I just don't see that trade materializing, but ya never know considering injuries at WR with other teams.

We’ll see…

 

[n1997y]

Nah, it’s okay to be a pragmatic centrist, there’s a few of us.

Definitely okay. I just wish there were more of us and not as many riding their own emotional roller coasters.

 

[captain stone]

There is a realm of possibility Boutte plays out his contract with the Patriots. It just involves a bunch of injuries elsewhere, and/or the team cutting young promising WR prospects. Which doesn't make sense, unless you know they're going to pay Boutte.

So are they going to pay Boutte or lose him next offseason and get nothing in return?

I don’t think they’ll be offered good enough value.

We should be prepared for great disappointment about the compensation if he is traded.

I'd rather keep Booty and - if he performs as well this season as he did last season - receive possibly a 4th-round compensatory pick in the 2028 draft.

 

[mgteich]

I was concerned about CB depth before TC ever began.

and before 2025 even happened

 

[patfanken]

If Boutte shows that last year wasn't a one-off and Williams and Douglas show continued improvement, then maybe the best time to move Boutte will be at the trade deadline.

 

[Wozzy]

I'd rather keep Booty and - if he performs as well this season as he did last season - receive possibly a 4th-round compensatory pick in the 2028 draft.

They probably won’t.

Also snaps given to Boutte are snaps taken away from Williams' and this WR room has a shortage of speed.

 

[Clonamery]

Definitely okay. I just wish there were more of us and not as many riding their own emotional roller coasters.

It's always been that way. One of the attractions here is that there are more like yourselves put their brain in front of their emotions (until you win something important) than other sites.

 

[captain stone]

They probably won’t.

Also snaps given to Boutte are snaps taken away from Williams' and this WR room has a shortage of speed.

There's room for both.

 

[Wozzy]

There's room for both.

Someone has to go, especially if the rest of the WR’s behind these guys look promising.

 

[captain stone]

Someone has to go, especially if the rest of the WR’s behind these guys look promising.

AJB
Doubs
BootyTime
Hollins
Williams
Douglas or Chism

"That's it. That's the list." - Don Jamieson, That Metal Show

 

[Wozzy]

AJB
Doubs
BootyTime
Hollins
Williams
Douglas or Chism

"That's it. That's the list." - Don Jamieson, That Metal Show

Nick DeGennaro and Cameron Dorner have caught like 2-3 TD’s apiece in training camp… I’ve lost count.

The list won’t be solidified until joint practices and sometimes right until the last preseason game.

 

[Family]

Nick DeGennaro and Cameron Dorner have caught like 2-3 TD’s apiece in training camp… I’ve lost count.

If they were to keep 7 WRs the first few weeks, these will probably be #7, and one of the others would be traded/cut.

If they show enough.