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

[Ring 6]

He had 33 catches, that does not equate into an insane amount of deep balls, unless every single one of them was a deep ball, which they werent. He caught a very high percentage of the deep balls he was thrown though, which was great

Over 30% of his targets were 20+ yards down field and he caught 72% of them.
That is absolutely and insane catch rate on deep throws
This is what I said.

 

[moosekill]

What you had with Boutte last year was a deep threat that coverted an insane amount of deep balls, and drew coverage with him when he wasn’t gettin targeted to open up the field for other receivers. The routes that dont get the ball and set up the defense to open up the one that does are very important.

He converted a very large percentage of deep balls thrown to him. He had 33 catches. Based on rough math, that works out to be like 8-12 catches all season. Not something a team game plans for.

 

[Rob0729]

Over 30% of his targets were 20+ yards down field and he caught 72% of them.
That is absolutely and insane catch rate on deep throws
This is what I said.

He was targeted 46 times last year. That means he was targeted over 20 yards 14 times and caught 10 balls over 20 yards last season. Not bad stats, but not nearly as impressive when you use actual numbers over percentages. Not sure you can call it an insane catch rate when he had less than one pass over 20 yards per game he played last year.

Kinda reminds be of Donte Stallworth in 2007. But Stallworth was a back up. Good for one big play every game or two.

 

[PatsFan2]

He was targeted 46 times last year. That means he was targeted over 20 yards 14 times and caught 10 balls over 20 yards last season. Not bad stats, but not nearly as impressive when you use actual numbers over percentages. Not sure you can call it an insane catch rate when he had less than one pass over 20 yards per game he played last year.

Kinda reminds be of Donte Stallworth in 2007. But Stallworth was a back up. Good for one big play every game or two.

Hmmmmm IF Kyle Williams becomes a Donté Stallworth I would be happy.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Over 30% of his targets were 20+ yards down field and he caught 72% of them.
That is absolutely and insane catch rate on deep throws
This is what I said.

I don't often say this, so let me say it now. Andy is 100% right.

 

[Ring 6]

He converted a very large percentage of deep balls thrown to him. He had 33 catches. Based on rough math, that works out to be like 8-12 catches all season. Not something a team game plans for.

Are you kidding? It was 10/14. That’s a very high number and a very high conversion rate. Absolutely defenses account for that. The #1 priority for defenses is not getting beat deep.

To give some perspective Josh Allen was 23/53 all year to every receiver on 20+ throws
Lamar Jackson was 19/41
Jalen Hurts was 25/65

What also is missing is how many deep throws defense took away from Boutte by play a safety over the top to prevent an almost gimme throw if he gets a little separation, which opened up the secondary for the other receivers.
But dont take my word for it, watch the film and tell me how many times 2 defenders are taken out of covering other receivers because they are on Boutte or over the top

 

[Rob0729]

To give some perspective Josh Allen was 23/53 all year to every receiver on 20+ throws
Lamar Jackson was 19/41
Jalen Hurts was 25/65

The thing is that Maye's completion percentage for passes over 20 yards was 72% for all receivers he threw to over 20 yards. So Boutte's catch rate is in line with every other receiver Maye threw to.

Drake Maye Completion Percentage Over 20 Yards 2025 | StatMuse

Drake Maye completed 72.0 percent of passes when throwing for >20 yards in 2025.

www.statmuse.com

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, I Googled it. Boutte's deep ball completion rate was actually 70.6%. Still very good, but below Maye's completion rate for deep ball passes.

 

[n1997y]

IF Kyle Williams $h!ts the bed I'm going look at Vrabel and our FO sideways.

So, nothing will change?

 

[upstater1]

Hmmmmm IF Kyle Williams becomes a Donté Stallworth I would be happy.

This would be a... big disappointment.

Team needs a downfield threat.

It opens up the game underneath.

If the CBs know a guy can catch a ball on the boundary, they won't cheat inside.

That opens the inside routes for other WRs.

We were begging for this in the Brady era. We had opposing fans making fun of Brady because his "arm wasn't strong enough to throw in the boundary areas" but we knew all along that he didn't have a receiver who could do it with the exception of Randy Moss and for a brief one year with Cook.

 

[upstater1]

The thing is that Maye's completion percentage for passes over 20 yards was 72% for all receivers he threw to over 20 yards. So Boutte's catch rate is in line with every other receiver Maye threw to.

Drake Maye Completion Percentage Over 20 Yards 2025 | StatMuse

Drake Maye completed 72.0 percent of passes when throwing for >20 yards in 2025.

www.statmuse.com

Every receiver he threw to well downfield or every receiver? There's a big difference

 

[Ring 6]

He was targeted 46 times last year. That means he was targeted over 20 yards 14 times and caught 10 balls over 20 yards last season. Not bad stats, but not nearly as impressive when you use actual numbers over percentages. Not sure you can call it an insane catch rate when he had less than one pass over 20 yards per game he played last year.

Kinda reminds be of Donte Stallworth in 2007. But Stallworth was a back up. Good for one big play every game or two.

Most receivers catch around 40%ish of 20+ balls. 72% is ridiculous.

What you fail to recognize, still, is the success that Maye to Boutte had caused defenses to devote deep coverage over the top. You aren’t getting that with Hollins.

But don’t take my word for it. Look at the film. Tell me how often you see Boutte running off coverage, pulling a corner and a safety over the top out of being able to cover the other receivers.
There is an enormous amount of value in that which you will never see in the stat sheet.
Even more, opponents watch film and see if you give Boutte a small amount of separation Maye is the best in the league at making the throw and Boutte is exceptional at tracking it and making the catch, often needing to go to the ground but holding on.

 

[Ring 6]

This would be a... big disappointment.

Team needs a downfield threat.

It opens up the game underneath.

If the CBs know a guy can catch a ball on the boundary, they won't cheat inside.

That opens the inside routes for other WRs.

We were begging for this in the Brady era. We had opposing fans making fun of Brady because his "arm wasn't strong enough to throw in the boundary areas" but we knew all along that he didn't have a receiver who could do it with the exception of Randy Moss and for a brief one year with Cook.

That is what Williams was drafted for.

 

[dliverey44]

YAC is meaningless when your YPC are high and your target rate is sky high.

We seem to be dismissing the one trait we've been starving for.

A WR who can fly down the boundary, adjust his body and speed, track a ball, and snag it! All because we want to prioritize some new age metric.

I could understand if we were talking about Christian Watson who only gets 9 yards per target, or Alec Pierce who does not connect with his QB more than half the time... but Boutte is making those downfield catches at a very high rate.

I agree, I would argue with anyone that Booty is a top 10 ball tracker in the league. Over the shoulder grabs are almost a certainty with him.

 

[Ring 6]

The thing is that Maye's completion percentage for passes over 20 yards was 72% for all receivers he threw to over 20 yards. So Boutte's catch rate is in line with every other receiver Maye threw to.

Drake Maye Completion Percentage Over 20 Yards 2025 | StatMuse

Drake Maye completed 72.0 percent of passes when throwing for >20 yards in 2025.

www.statmuse.com

That is not true. He was 34/62 54.8%

I’m not sure what a stat muse is but I’m giving real numbers from PFF which tracks it very accurately

 

[Ring 6]

Every receiver he threw to well downfield or every receiver? There's a big difference

Plus the stat is not correct

 

[Ring 6]

BTW, I Googled it. Boutte's deep ball completion rate was actually 70.6%. Still very good, but below Maye's completion rate for deep ball passes.

But the way you are wrong. Maye is 54.8% on deep balls.

 

[patfanken]

Because I don’t agree with your premise. Brown, Doubs and Boutte certainly do not have the same skillset, and the best lineup would have been the 3 of them in the field together, saving that Williams busts out and takes Bouttes place.

I also don’t believe we want to emphasize the run more and receivers will get fewer snaps. The fb will replace TE2 in the limited amount of snaps he plays. With Drake Maye this is a team that wins by throwing the ball and the coaching staff understands that. The run game is supplement and support for the passing game.

What you had with Boutte last year was a deep threat that coverted an insane amount of deep balls, and drew coverage with him when he wasn’t gettin targeted to open up the field for other receivers. The routes that dont get the ball and set up the defense to open up the one that does are very important.

I think it’s interesting to discuss, but yes once the season starts Boutte is no longer a Patriot and the enemy and we go with what we have.
In the interim I find it interesting to discuss what looks like a mistake, again qualifying that by unless Williams takes over.

I think we differ in that I believe that BOTH Brown and Doubs can do the things that Boutte gave us last year and do them better, PLUS they have other skills that Boutte doesn't have. This isn't to denigrate Boutte. He did a great job last season, but unless you think he is overall better than Doubs and Brown, exactly what did we give up vs what we got.

You would make a great ESPN analyst, Andy, because most of them ALSO agree that Boutte is some kind of WR superstar after a 33 catch season. Thanks for your comments on my comments

 

[Ring 6]

I think we differ in that I believe that BOTH Brown and Doubs can do the things that Boutte gave us last year and do them better, PLUS they have other skills that Boutte doesn't have. This isn't to denigrate Boutte. He did a great job last season, but unless you think he is overall better than Doubs and Brown, exactly what did we give up vs what we got.

You would make a great ESPN analyst, Andy, because most of them ALSO agree that Boutte is some kind of WR superstar after a 33 catch season. Thanks for your comments on my comments

Doubs is not a deep threat. Brown is the #1 receiver.

Why does he have to be “better” than Brown and Doubs? Why wouldn’t he complement them?
How much better are the 2 of those with a deep threat pulling coverage away and getting 50 targets and 35 catches mostly deep to legitimize drawing coverage away?
Hollins isn’t doing that, Douglas isn’t doing that.

I’m far from calling him a superstar. Please show me where you think I said that.
I said he is excellent at an important function in our offense, and we are going to miss him unless Williams fills the void.

People are falling all over themselves about how we need a SLOT GUY and pumping Demario Douglas who has a grand total of 26 1st down catches in 3rd down in his entire 3 year career
I’ve seen him fall down with no one around him more than 26 times.

 

[Huckleberry1]

First off, I like Boutte and preferred he stayed here for 2026.

But let me ask you a couple of questions.

How many times was Boutte double covered last year?
Any WR that runs deep patterns draws at least single coverage, opposing Ds don’t let guys run unchecked down the field.
So technically any WR running deep routes would draw at least single coverage, so Boutte would need to dictate more than that to really stand out.
I don’t remember him drawing double coverage much, so this is a sincere question.

Secondly, if people are stuck on a stat page and Boutte brought more value than the value of receptions, why do you routinely use those same stats to devalue Hollins?

Let’s discuss.

This became very evident in the Super Bowl, and Seahawk defenders said after the Super Bowl that the Patriots skill players didn't concern them at all. I like Boutte but some here are acting like they traded Randy Moss for a bag of bones.