Boutte available for trade?

[Wozzy]

You need him this year whether he stays or not afterward.

No you don’t. The passing game was fine, maybe better when Boutte was injured last season.

 

[Wozzy]

I think he could be Brandon LaFell, really, could do a lot worse.

That said, LaFell was here on a nothing contract later in his career, not looking for 18 mill/yr for a long term.

And Randy Moss had a contract, he wasn’t looking for a new one.

If Boutte had 2-3 years left on his contract you might get a better pick for him.

 

[rochrist]

He's going to have a career similar to Deion Branch. It would be a mistake give up that kind of production.

After his third season, Branch had 135 catches, and that's with year 3 being cut in half due to injury. (35 catches in 9 gaames).

Boutte has 78 catches after three years.

 

[Zuma]

That’s true, but generally those players have the traits to do so. Boutte isn’t big, tall, fast or super quick… he isn’t going to improve upon those things.

2” taller then Branch…bummer

 

[Zuma]

After his third season, Branch had 135 catches, and that's with year 3 being cut in half due to injury. (35 catches in 9 gaames).

Boutte has 78 catches after three years.

Players don’t improve…good points all

 

[Ring 6]

This may not be true in a couple of weeks, which is the whole point of this thread.

He is still one of the 3 best receivers on the team if you trade for brown.

 

[DaBruinz]

Age is relative, they’re all young.

Boutte needs to get paid… have you seen NFL WR contracts lately?

Better is the unknown, but Boutte is a 500 yard receiver. Does that sound irreplaceable?

More excuses from you. No. Age isn't relative. Dixon and DeGennaro are 3years behind Boutte despite being a year older than him.

Yes, I've seen the contracts. That doesn't change what he's making NOW.

UNKNOWN isn't better. FFS. That's the kind of stupidity I expect from State or Patsfan2 You completely ignore the FACT that he's on his 3rd OC. Claiming he's ONLY a 500 yard receiver when that is a huge factor shows your bias.

No one said Boutte was irreplaceable. But you're acting like the UDFAs are going to just come in and blow the lid off things and force him, Williams and Hollins onto the bench. They'll be lucky if they make the PS.

 

[DaBruinz]

That’s true, but generally those players have the traits to do so. Boutte isn’t big, tall, fast or super quick… he isn’t going to improve upon those things.

Boutte has GAME Speed. Which is far more important than 40 times. Boutte doesn't need to be "superquick". He runs very good routes.

There have been plenty of excellent receivers that are Boutte's height/weight/speed combo. You don't get to be 5th in YPC if you don't have some speed and quickness.

 

[DaBruinz]

After his third season, Branch had 135 catches, and that's with year 3 being cut in half due to injury. (35 catches in 9 gaames).

Boutte has 78 catches after three years.

After his 3rd season, Branch was still in the same offense that he entered the league under. Boutte is on his 3rd different offense. They aren't comparable. Boutte is closer to Givens than Branch. Givens had 99 catches after 3 seasons. But, again, was in the same offense.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Tom Curran is hinting that Boutte doesn't have a market (not a shock). If he ends up returning and staying quiet, we'll know his agent confirmed that. Boutte needs to look at this as an opportunity to play for a Super Bowl contending team and in an offense with continuity so he can cash in after 2026. However, I do think someone is going to be the odd man out if Brown shows up. Hollins is going to be sweating it out if Douglas, Chism, Williams or Boutte take a big step forward.

 

[Wozzy]

2” taller then Branch…bummer

Branch was fast (4.4 speed) and had otherworldly quickness (3.78 shuttle/6.71 cone) in a league full of fast/quick people.

Boutte has average speed and quickness. We just drafted a 230 pound linebacker in the 6th round as fast as Boutte.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Also Boutte is a Faster version of Romeo Doubs.

Are you sure? Where did you see that? All the stats I saw, including in game tracking speed, say Doubs is faster.

 

[Wozzy]

More excuses from you. No. Age isn't relative. Dixon and DeGennaro are 3years behind Boutte despite being a year older than him.

Yes, I've seen the contracts. That doesn't change what he's making NOW.

UNKNOWN isn't better. FFS. That's the kind of stupidity I expect from State or Patsfan2 You completely ignore the FACT that he's on his 3rd OC. Claiming he's ONLY a 500 yard receiver when that is a huge factor shows your bias.

No one said Boutte was irreplaceable. But you're acting like the UDFAs are going to just come in and blow the lid off things and force him, Williams and Hollins onto the bench. They'll be lucky if they make the PS.

Doubs isn’t an unknown… better. AJ Brown is better than Diggs… Williams a year in the system getting starter reps in practice… better. Douglas better in 2024, Hollins has a role as a blocker… I don’t need the UDFA’s to make the active roster to justify this trade.

I don’t expect every team in the league to turn UDFA signings into player, I don’t expect it from the Cardinals… but the Patriots one year under Vrabel look very good at identifying college talent and developing it. They don’t have to make the active roster, they brought a handful of WR’s… let one or two make the practice squad. It’s still depth to justify moving on from Boutte.

There’s a lot of hemming and hawing from you about this… are you paying Boutte? Otherwise you can’t justify hanging onto him. He won’t want to be here in 2026.

 

[Bill Lee]

Unfortunately, if/when Brown becomes a member of his favorite team, the potential of a “bidding war” for Boutte diminishes. While he has progressed, at this point he’s a 3’rd receiver at best. We either face that fact and settle for a 5th or more likely a 6th round pick or have him battle it out with Williams for snaps. Good season or bad, he’s outta here next year anyway, so let’s hope he has a good year and brings back a decent future comp pick….

It's already hard to see how a bidding war breaks out at this point in the year. Teams have spent their money on both FA and draft, and after the draft especially, roster spots are pretty full. Yes, you get to expand the roster, but you are continuously penciling people in for the top 45 and top 53, and if you go into the draft with holes you usually set up your draft to fill in the holes.

Other teams have pretty full rosters and salary caps, and know looking at us we too are in that boat, so it's in their own best interest to just wait and see if Boutte is even on our team after cut-down day. If so, they definitely don't have to lose any draft capital to get him, and can tell him he needs to sign a 'prove it' deal if he wants a roster spot because after cut-down day roster spots are precious.

As I wrote earlier, it seems to me his team is over-playing their hand.

 

[Wozzy]

It's already hard to see how a bidding war breaks out at this point in the year. Teams have spent their money on both FA and draft, and after the draft especially, roster spots are pretty full. Yes, you get to expand the roster, but you are continuously penciling people in for the top 45 and top 53, and if you go into the draft with holes you usually set up your draft to fill in the holes.

Other teams have pretty full rosters and salary caps, and know looking at us we too are in that boat, so it's in their own best interest to just wait and see if Boutte is even on our team after cut-down day. If so, they definitely don't have to lose any draft capital to get him, and can tell him he needs to sign a 'prove it' deal if he wants a roster spot because after cut-down day roster spots are precious.

As I wrote earlier, it seems to me his team is over-playing their hand.

The notion there was going to be a bidding war for a 6th round pick WR who maxed out at 500 yards receiving at any point was a funny one.

Boutte is pressing the issue here and making it known he wants a new deal. Douglas, Hollins and a handful of other guys are entering a contract year and are still at OTA’s.

I don’t think the Pats overplayed their hand as much as Boutte is making noise. It’s late in the game, he wants a new deal, he’s way overrated by fans here… they were never getting a high draft pick for him.

 

[Bill Lee]

I don’t think the Pats overplayed their hand as much as Boutte is making noise. It’s late in the game, he wants a new deal, he’s way overrated by fans here… they were never getting a high draft pick for him.

Sorry for being unclear, but by 'his team' I meant Boutte's agents/advisors, not the Pats.

I get why his agents would want to get him a big deal, but it seems he's now in a bad spot. Everyone has been through the draft and FA and now they have a good idea of what their 45/53 rosters will be. There isn't a lot of room for him out there. Even worse after cut-down day where there will be lots of decent players available for no draft compensation, all hungry for roster spots.

And I get why they think he should stay away from the team during OTAs to highlight his desire for a big deal, but I don't see how it is actually going to help him get that big deal.

It seems like he's in a bad spot, and yet has no moves he can make to improve the situation.

 

[Wozzy]

Sorry for being unclear, but by 'his team' I meant Boutte's agents/advisors, not the Pats.

I get why his agents would want to get him a big deal, but it seems he's now in a bad spot. Everyone has been through the draft and FA and now they have a good idea of what their 45/53 rosters will be. There isn't a lot of room for him out there. Even worse after cut-down day where there will be lots of decent players available for no draft compensation, all hungry for roster spots.

And I get why they think he should stay away from the team during OTAs to highlight his desire for a big deal, but I don't see how it is actually going to help him get that big deal.

It seems like he's in a bad spot, and yet has no moves he can make to improve the situation.

Ahh… I agree entirely then. I still doubt his trade potential was ever going to be a lot considering his minimal production and contract requests, but either he or his agent waited too long to air their grievances.

 

[rkarp1]

Boutte would be smart to bide his time, while in camp. Injuries and retirement happen over the summer. there will be teams that will have a need.
as far as any of us know, Boutte has not said boo about his contract. I could assume he wants a situation to be somewhere to gat 60-90 targets, and then make his next deal, rather than making his next deal now.

 

[Wozzy]

Boutte would be smart to bide his time, while in camp. Injuries and retirement happen over the summer. there will be teams that will have a need.
as far as any of us know, Boutte has not said boo about his contract. I could assume he wants a situation to be somewhere to gat 60-90 targets, and then make his next deal, rather than making his next deal now.

Not showing up to OTA’s is Boutte saying something.

 

[PatsFan2]

Not showing up to OTA’s is Boutte saying something.

And Gonzo is not??