Patriots Player Departure Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick

[raduray]

Last year they could get just about anyone they wanted on waivers b/c they had the #4 position throughout the preseason. This year, thanks to making the Super Bowl, the only team they've had priority over is Seattle.

Fair point

 

[mgteich]

So, in the past week, we have signed players who can start if needed at OG, C, P and S. We also discovered a backup punter.

We also picked up a PS OG/OT.

I would say that our depth has improved a bit.

And yes, we gave up our 7th WR.

Last year, our late pickups were Woods, DiVito, Gregory and Durden.
This year, our pickups have been Van Roten, Haak, Conley, and Reed.

Hopefully, we will be able to add some depth at ILB or DL.

 

[manxman2601]

A good point made in that Tanner James breakdown of Reed is that we really struggled defending the flat against the Eagles and maybe Reed helps out there as a big nickel.

"Reed has flashed some nice click-and-close ability, especially when covering tight ends or reacting to passes in the flats -- something the Patriots specifically struggled with against the Eagles. "

There was also an article posted last year which @mayoclinic shared in the draft forum which basically said that we use safeties as force players in the run game. The DLs job is to force the run outside - the EDGEs crashing inside - and the CBs are used to set the outside edge with the safeties being the ones to make the tackle. We saw that plenty with Woodson last year and now have the potential to have that with Reed also, covering both sides of the LoS.

 

[Dec54]

A good point made in that Tanner James breakdown of Reed is that we really struggled defending the flat against the Eagles and maybe Reed helps out there as a big nickel.

"Reed has flashed some nice click-and-close ability, especially when covering tight ends or reacting to passes in the flats -- something the Patriots specifically struggled with against the Eagles. "

There was also an article posted last year which @mayoclinic shared in the draft forum which basically said that we use safeties as force players in the run game. The DLs job is to force the run outside - the EDGEs crashing inside - and the CBs are used to set the outside edge with the safeties being the ones to make the tackle. We saw that plenty with Woodson last year and now have the potential to have that with Reed also, covering both sides of the LoS.

I didn't want to see Boutte go either, but lets face it was always on the cards. Lots of moaning here about "only" getting Reed, but I for one think this could turn out to be a good move for the Pat's.

 

[Clonamery]

I didn't want to see Boutte go either, but lets face it was always on the cards. Lots of moaning here about "only" getting Reed, but I for one think this could turn out to be a good move for the Pat's.

We keeping 5 Safeties plus Schooler?

 

[n1997y]

We keeping 5 Safeties plus Schooler?

Probably not, I think five including Schooler.

Woodson
Byard
Reed
Saunders
+Schooler

Pettus to the PS

 

[rkarp1]

OK

Vrabel has judged that Boutte's worth to the patriots is the same as a backup safety.

I see no reason to disagree.

this is a foolish comment
you continue to discuss "worth" regarding Boutte, while disregarding the pending contract.
Boutte's "worth" is not only predicated on his on the field production, but his next contract.
Boutte's value on the field far exceeding a 6th round pick. his looming free agency is what is impacting his trade value.
If Boutte puts up the same numbers he did this past season, he is getting paid, and he is playing where he wants to play.

the Pats did not put a value on Boutte, the market did. the market digested his production, age, health, and contract status.

Doubs-2025 season. 55 rcpts. 65% catch percent. 13 yards per rcpt
Boutte-2025 season. 33 rcpts. 72% catch percent. 17 yards per rcpt
Doubs-4 years $70m
Boutte with the same stats as 2025-4 years ??million?

 

[Clonamery]

Probably not, I think five including Schooler.

Woodson
Byard
Reed
Saunders
+Schooler

Pettus to the PS

Is Reed starting?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I don't think it was a give away.
What do you think Kayshon Boutte was worth?

I really liked Boutte as a player, and because of his age, I thought he still has plenty of room to improve.

Reality, however, is he has 78 catches in 3 years, and has played 34 of a possible 50 career games. He can only play on the boundary, he can't play in the slot. He doesn't play special teams. He was looking for a serious long-term deal, not a high-guarantee short-term contract - after the Patriots just brought in two receivers who are objectively better than he is.

So, what do you think he was worth, if you think the Patriots just gave him away, considering they brought in a young safety, under contract for two years with starting experience, when they had zero depth behind Byard and Woodson? Worth enough for you to call it a 'give away'?

He's valuable in that they didn't want to pay the guy. He will get 15 a yr from someone when he hits the market. If he wasn't worth much he'd still be here

 

[Huckleberry1]

....? I've not seen anything that suggests as much. The only similarity to Welker and Edelman is him being white and a small receiver. He had THREE receptions last year, and has only had 4 in this preseason.

He is NOT those two, full stop.

It's the only thing that has really made me scratch my head with Vrabel. I don't get what he sees in him.

Diggs and Douglass got all the touches out of the slot last year, Chism was learning the position. And Edelman himself has acknowledged that he was on the bubble his first 3 years in New England. Like so many others it appears that you don't have the patience to allow them to develop players, they have to produce big numbers immediately or they SUUUUUCCCCCKKKK!!!

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't see this as a good representation of reality. Williams and Boutte have different skill sets. One guy is a solid downfield contested catch guy, the other can outrun or out quick a defender. Boutte is what he is. Williams has the higher ceiling. We HOPE Williams will give us around 500 yds in a backup roll behind Doubs and AJ this season, anything more is a bonus

Williams' primary problem appears to be tracking the ball in flight as he's ending routes. No telling what the solution might be, whether it's (hopefully) just getting enough game-speed reps or even if it's a coachable skill. If he can go in a straight line with nobody pestering him, like we saw vs. Tampa and also a few days ago, he can be dangerous.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think the better question is what does Doubs do better than Boutte to justify paying and bringing in as a replacement?

Everything.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Everything.

Sometimes I feel like Doubs is being criminally overlooked around these parts.

He's pretty good!

 

[moosekill]

this is a foolish comment
you continue to discuss "worth" regarding Boutte, while disregarding the pending contract.
Boutte's "worth" is not only predicated on his on the field production, but his next contract.
Boutte's value on the field far exceeding a 6th round pick. his looming free agency is what is impacting his trade value.
If Boutte puts up the same numbers he did this past season, he is getting paid, and he is playing where he wants to play.

the Pats did not put a value on Boutte, the market did. the market digested his production, age, health, and contract status.

Doubs-2025 season. 55 rcpts. 65% catch percent. 13 yards per rcpt
Boutte-2025 season. 33 rcpts. 72% catch percent. 17 yards per rcpt
Doubs-4 years $70m
Boutte with the same stats as 2025-4 years ??million?

You look at funny numbers over and over. The big number that matters is 33 receptions vs 55 receptions what is that 60% more catches? These two wide receivers aren't the same and NO ONE ELSE WANTED HIM!!!!!! Do you understand that????? People can argue that he was more valuable to the Patriots, but um they wanted to get rid of him, so no he wasn't. He is a good receiver, I could give two ****s whether or not he is home grown talent, he was a JAG, there are lots of every day pretty good receivers out there. Could he continue to improve and become more, perhaps, was he going to do it for the Patriots this year, probably not, he was buried at the bottom of the depth chart. He asked for a trade this spring, because he knew he wasn't going to be the #2 again this year and get 33 receptions and 600 yards he was probably going to get 15-20 receptions and 250 yards, and a contract for a couple of million dollars. Now at least he can sort of be the guy for Houston and maybe get a big payday, for his sake I hope he can, he made some huge plays for us last year and I wish him all the luck in the world, except when he plays us.

 

[moosekill]

You look at funny numbers over and over. The big number that matters is 33 receptions vs 55 receptions what is that 60% more catches? These two wide receivers aren't the same and NO ONE ELSE WANTED HIM!!!!!! Do you understand that????? People can argue that he was more valuable to the Patriots, but um they wanted to get rid of him, so no he wasn't. He is a good receiver, I could give two ****s whether or not he is home grown talent, he was a JAG, there are lots of every day pretty good receivers out there. Could he continue to improve and become more, perhaps, was he going to do it for the Patriots this year, probably not, he was buried at the bottom of the depth chart. He asked for a trade this spring, because he knew he wasn't going to be the #2 again this year and get 33 receptions and 600 yards he was probably going to get 15-20 receptions and 250 yards, and a contract for a couple of million dollars. Now at least he can sort of be the guy for Houston and maybe get a big payday, for his sake I hope he can, he made some huge plays for us last year and I wish him all the luck in the world, except when he plays us.

Dislike it all you want, it is the truth and some of you are just plain to stupid to realize it. You put your fanboys glasses on, progressives for most of you, and slobber all over our players.

 

[Clonamery]

Dislike it all you want, it is the truth and some of you are just plain to stupid to realize it. You put your fanboys glasses on, progressives for most of you, and slobber all over our players.

Relax. You're way too triggered for a normal person.