Boutte available for trade?

[Ring 6]

For a 5th you should keep him. He is one of the 3 best receivers with or without AJ Brown.

 

[Ross12]

For a 5th you should keep him. He is one of the 3 best receivers with or without AJ Brown.

I think the thought process is that he would not see the field unless Brown or Doubs came off the field, which could cause him to become a malcontent in a contract season. He’s not really a player for the slot, and if they are taking one of their outside guys off the field, they may want to prioritize playing one of the guys they want to develop for the future like Williams.

I have no issues with keeping him if they think things will be fine, but also no issues with moving him - of course assuming Brown is acquired.

 

[Ring 6]

I think the thought process is that he would not see the field unless Brown or Doubs came off the field, which could cause him to become a malcontent in a contract season. He’s not really a player for the slot, and if they are taking one of their outside guys off the field, they may want to prioritize playing one of the guys they want to develop for the future like Williams.

I have no issues with keeping him if they think things will be fine, but also no issues with moving him - of course assuming Brown is acquired.

That doesn’t make sense. We use 3 WRs consistently. He is one of the best 3 and injuries happen. Why would you just give him away?

 

[Wozzy]

what you wrote is foolish

You don't respond because you can't... so I'll just repeat myself.

A piece of paper isn't going to stop Boutte from being a malcontent and a distraction.

A contract isn't a magic spell, don't be daft.

 

[Huckleberry1]

the Pats should not be in any rush
if Boutte wants to play, and get paid, he will need to report.
If a WR on the Pats gets hurt over the summer, Boutte is locked and loaded.
If everyone comes thru healthy, and Brown and DOubs look really good, Boutte can be had in a deal, that is worth it to the Pats.
Thats not a 5th or 6th

I think the Pats should tell his agent to g get the best contract offer he can get for him, with the promise they will trade him if they can get a 4th round pick for him. If he's as good as he thinks he is that's a fair offer.

 

[upstater1]

thats about as foolish a comment as most of Wozzy's comments
Boutte gets 1st downs. TD's. yards after the catch. he catches 70% of the balls thrown to him.
he is a productive and efficient as can be

???????????
Uh, read the thread.

 

[mgteich]

I think the thought process is that he would not see the field unless Brown or Doubs came off the field, which could cause him to become a malcontent in a contract season. He’s not really a player for the slot, and if they are taking one of their outside guys off the field, they may want to prioritize playing one of the guys they want to develop for the future like Williams.

I have no issues with keeping him if they think things will be fine, but also no issues with moving him - of course assuming Brown is acquired.

The situation seems clear, presuming that Brown is signed.

Brown and Doubs won't come off the field unless we have only one WR out there. Which could happen with 2 WR sets and 2 RB/RB sets.

So, we are talking about sets with 5 OLs, 1 RB, Doubs, Brown, Henry, Maye and ONE more player.

That 11th player could be
a WR
a FB
a 2nd TE

How many reps would the 3rd, 4th and 5th WR's get per game?
Split the additional reps among
Hollins
Williams and Boutte

Personally, I would expect to get more reps than Williams and Boutte combined. He was the "glue" that made the passing game work last year. To be clear, I don't think that Boutte would get enough reps to prove himself enough to get a large 2nd contract. He might get that if he plays elsewhere in 2026.

I would like to us have Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams and Boutte as our 5 WR's at least until mid-August. After all, injuries happen and Boutte is low-cost. I just find this scenario unlikely.

 

[patfanken]

Wasn't Baringer hurt late in the year?
I thought he was pretty good earlier.
I'm probably wrong, I usually am

No you are right. Baringer has had some solid seasons with the Pats, but last season he just sucked, especially late in the season and into the playoffs. For most of the playoffs, he was a detriment and we were constantly losing yardage in the punting game compared to our opponents. I don't know if an injury was a factor, but he was definitely struggling out there.

 

[Real fan 02]

Your right, he had starter snaps with role player results.

If you made Boutte your starter on your fantasy team you lost.

The way you guys bend over backwards to shine coal into diamonds is a laugh riot. 500 yards is 500 yards.

 

[BTTA]

The situation seems clear, presuming that Brown is signed.

Brown and Doubs won't come off the field unless we have only one WR out there. Which could happen with 2 WR sets and 2 RB/RB sets.

So, we are talking about sets with 5 OLs, 1 RB, Doubs, Brown, Henry, Maye and ONE more player.

That 11th player could be
a WR
a FB
a 2nd TE

How many reps would the 3rd, 4th and 5th WR's get per game?
Split the additional reps among
Hollins
Williams and Boutte

Personally, I would expect to get more reps than Williams and Boutte combined. He was the "glue" that made the passing game work last year. To be clear, I don't think that Boutte would get enough reps to prove himself enough to get a large 2nd contract. He might get that if he plays elsewhere in 2026.

I would like to us have Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams and Boutte as our 5 WR's at least until mid-August. After all, injuries happen and Boutte is low-cost. I just find this scenario unlikely.

A reasonable analysis. Given our past history (us, here on Patsfans) there's a good chance we are over estimating Doubs impact and ability, and underestimating our own guy's. And I keep reading that Doubs is a short-intermediate guy, and that Boutte is an efficient downfield route guy. So why the either/or on them? Isn't it more about Williams vs. Boutte for a stretch the field guy? And is it about a single roster spot, or about who gets the snap count?

 

[Water Boy]

I get some of the uneasiness with AJB (knee, malcontent in Philly), but anyone thinking we are a better team as currently constituted is delusional.

We all love Boutte. Homegrown, fringe roster guy who became a very productive receiver, who helped unlock Maye's deep passing game. Many of those targets were absolute dimes by Maye with little separation. Credit to Boutte for making those catches, but AJB is an upgrade as an X receiver.

 

[moosekill]

O

A reasonable analysis. Given our past history (us, here on Patsfans) there's a good chance we are over estimating Doubs impact and ability, and underestimating our own guy's. And I keep reading that Doubs is a short-intermediate guy, and that Boutte is an efficient downfield route guy. So why the either/or on them? Isn't it more about Williams vs. Boutte for a stretch the field guy? And is it about a single roster spot, or about who gets the snap count?

This is discussion is all based upon the assumption that a. AJ is coming here. b. Diggs isn't coming here .

If Brown doesn't come, you keep Boutte. If Brown comes and Diggs comes there is no spot for Boutte and you let him go for a bag of peanuts. If Brown comes and no Diggs then I think either Pop or Boutte is gone. It seems Pop is saying and doing all the right things while Boutte is being portrayed as a malcontent. Additionally, many of the reasons people want to keep Boutte is why he may well be more valuable in a trade scenario than Pop is, so I guess we will have a much clearer idea after we know what is happening with AJ.

 

[rkarp1]

O

This is discussion is all based upon the assumption that a. AJ is coming here. b. Diggs isn't coming here .

If Brown doesn't come, you keep Boutte. If Brown comes and Diggs comes there is no spot for Boutte and you let him go for a bag of peanuts. If Brown comes and no Diggs then I think either Pop or Boutte is gone. It seems Pop is saying and doing all the right things while Boutte is being portrayed as a malcontent. Additionally, many of the reasons people want to keep Boutte is why he may well be more valuable in a trade scenario than Pop is, so I guess we will have a much clearer idea after we know what is happening with AJ.

the issue for me, is not about Boutte's talent or his fit.
its about a bag of peanuts.
if Boutte is to be moved, age, production and current contract all scream more than a 5th
remember how Bill got fleeced on the JimmyG deal.
don't over play the Brown deal, and make a mistake on Boutte

 

[RxJock1120]

While a very short take, this seems pretty accurate to me. Boutte should be moved, not cause i don't like him, he did very well with his opportunities last year, but he is going to get buried in the depth chart and deserves to get a fresh start. Trade him while we still own a year of his contract. After this coming season, he will walk away for nothing and we won't get above a 6th comp pick for him as no one is signing a WR4 to a huge contract.

 

[moosekill]

the issue for me, is not about Boutte's talent or his fit.
its about a bag of peanuts.
if Boutte is to be moved, age, production and current contract all scream more than a 5th
remember how Bill got fleeced on the JimmyG deal.
don't over play the Brown deal, and make a mistake on Boutte

I always go back to the we vastly over rate our players on this board. You can argue Bill sucked at trading his players, but do you think Vrabel sucks at it too? At some point you get enough data points you start to realize that maybe it isn't them, maybe it is us. A 500 yard receiver who is perceived as perhaps not being the best team player may not be worth a 2nd rounder some here want for him.

 

[Wozzy]

The sports media get all their takes from this place.

 

[Wozzy]

I always go back to the we vastly over rate our players on this board. You can argue Bill sucked at trading his players, but do you think Vrabel sucks at it too? At some point you get enough data points you start to realize that maybe it isn't them, maybe it is us. A 500 yard receiver who is perceived as perhaps not being the best team player may not be worth a 2nd rounder some here want for him.

He thinks we should get a first, second minimum for a WR whose career high is 500 yards receiving, who disappears for large stretches of games and oh yeah…. the trading team also has to pay him.

Bill didn’t suck at trading, Rkarp never accepted that the free market sets the price… always.

 

[PatsFan2]

the move on brown isnt desperation.

overpaying for romeo was

the move on brown isnt desperation.

overpaying for romeo was

Some is telling themselves that we didn't. I Hope Boutte have a contract year for the ages. Can't wait to see the spin doctors change their tunes.

 

[borg]

We all love Boutte.

Incredible hands

Many of those targets were absolute dimes by Maye with little separation.

Based on only the eye test from my lofty perch (living room), Boutte seemed to slow down as the season progressed and looked to have added pounds at the tail end of the season.

In 2025, Boutte's snap count was equal to Diggs (608 vs 601)
With the addition of Doubs and likely addition of AJB, plus NE's propensity to use two TE sets, Boutte will be asked to play a much lesser role in a contract year, hence the predictable offseason posturing by Boutte who is skipping "voluntary" off season programs in NE.

Boutte has earned a combined $2.75 mill over 3 seasons.
He's due $3.7 mill in 2026

Seems clear Boutte and his agent are seeking more opportunity and $$$ than NE is willing to provide this season, and let's not discount the potential savings for NE who will be funding two new high-priced starting WRs while (disgruntled ?) Boutte sits in reserve.

NE has decided to upgrade.
Boutte has a plan

 

[Real fan 02]

While a very short take, this seems pretty accurate to me. Boutte should be moved, not cause i don't like him, he did very well with his opportunities last year, but he is going to get buried in the depth chart and deserves to get a fresh start. Trade him while we still own a year of his contract. After this coming season, he will walk away for nothing and we won't get above a 6th comp pick for him as no one is signing a WR4 to a huge contract.

What I've been saying on the forum regarding this is.. even with Diggs still on the roster heading into FA.. the team was looking to upgrade at WR.. fortunately for us we have a great head coach that's not playing make believe and thinking we can continue to win in this league without having some top tier talent. We have the elite QB now we are giving him a bondifide WR post June 1& I can see what the teams doing.. signing Doubs who actually was targeting NE and told his agents he wants to come here.. beefing up the LOS as they did.. running the ball will be the focus.