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

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Apparently, Vrabel doesn't like this backup safety options. Did Pettus, Brown and Saunders really look that bad to Vrabel?

My theory is he might like those guys as okay depth but doesn’t see them as future starters. In the playoffs reed played 82% of the defensive snaps on possibly the league’s best defense and has looked good thus far in preseason per reports and pff(take that fwiw). Reed probably has more potential there and we didn’t have a succession plan to byard. Not the most pressing need but at the end of the day it was a need looking down the road.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I will say though that this now opens up the question of whether the front office can evaluate WRs properly, because we're looking at Polk and Williams and their evaluation. More than anything, this is about Williams. Williams will need to have impact.

Williams is very promising and talented. I don't understand all the doubt expressed here about Williams.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I dunno, lots of folk have been dissing Reed because he was drafted in the sixth round. I’m just pointing out that Boutte was also picked in the sixth so deserves the same respect or lack thereof if you’re going to judge by where they were picked.

In fact Reed was picked with the exact same pick as Boutte, pick 187, so they had the same draft value.

I won't discount Reed just cause he was a 6th rd pick.
He's a big safety, so imagine him in the big safety/hybird LB role.
We need LB help, so perhaps they are addressing it with a big nickel.
I liked him at PSU, good STs player, and better around the LOS than deep in coverage.
He could be our 4th safety, time will tell.

 

[ScottishPatriot]

Realistically, someone had to be out the door, and Boutte - while a good WR - was just too similar to a lot of our other options.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Williams is very promising and talented. I don't understand all the doubt expressed here about Williams.

Nor do I, it's baffling really.
I expect a lot of progress this year.

 

[Uptown]

Just for context: Imagine if GB threw the ball more; which they allegedly plan on doing this season. Doubs would’ve lit **** up. He also shows up big time in playoff games & can block very well. Here are some clips, stats & examples of how Doubs handles his business on the field.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[WhatJustHappened]

 

[SteveKiner]

I will start by saying Boutte was my favorite player on the team. I was psyched when they drafted him because I remember his freshman year at LSU when he was great. An injured ankle and Brian Kelly kind of killed the rest of his college career. I believe his gambling issue aIso caused him to slide his draft year. I think he has overcome a lot and made himself into a good WR2 in the NFL and hope he has a great year and gets a bag from the Texans or as a free agent. That being said, I think this could be a very good trade for the Patriots. Not that I am a draft guru like BGC, Manxman, Mayo and a few others here, but I really liked Reed when he came out in 2025. I liked him better than Woodson and was pissed when the Pats took Woodson instead of Reed if they were looking for a safety. I know he got injured but by the stats it looks like he made a good recovery and was playing well enough to start for the Texans in their 2 playoff games. A person I know who follows the Texans said he was having a very good camp and most people thought he was a lock for the 53. They signed Blankenship for SS but Reed can play a hybrid S/Slot CB role or even a S/LB big nickel type role. He is also very good on special teams. Woodson had a great year for the Pats, so it looks like they were right and I was wrong.

My biggest concern about this is if Vrabel/Wolf/ Cowden thought we need more depth at Safety and special teams, what does that say about Woodson's injury and Schooler's long term availability? Apparently Brown has not looked good in camp and I think Pettus in up and down. Hopefully Woodson is not injured seriously and Schooler comes back shortly but if either is out for awhile, I would much rather have Reed to back up than have 7-8 man receiving corps with Boutte I may get to see if my appraisal of Reed over Woodson comes true.

 

[Uptown]

Jaylen Reed Is Locked In for Year 2 and the Texans Are Better for It

We got to talk with Reed and right away you could tell this is a young man who is locked in.

www.houstontexans.com

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Seriously, Reddit?

 

[Uptown]

His physical makeup and skill set reminds me of Adrian Phillips.

 

[Uptown]

 

[cupofjoe1962]

My son made a video on Boutte

 

[scott99]

This is Kyle Williams’ time. Boutte was the team’s best deep threat the last 2 years, and had great chemistry with Maye. Williams showed some promise as a deep threat as a rookie. It’s time to take Boutte’s place. Hollins also had some deep threat ability. I’ll miss Boutte, I think he’s a good receiver. But our receiver room is deep, as I suspect Brown, Doubs and Douglas to be the top 3, with Hollins, Williams and Chism as their backups.

 

[mgteich]

This is not the way to look at things.

The question is not, what's he worth for other teams.

The question is what is his value to the Patriots?

OK

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

I see no reason to disagree.

 

[Grogan1980]

This is Kyle Williams’ time. Boutte was the team’s best deep threat the last 2 years, and had great chemistry with Maye. Williams showed some promise as a deep threat as a rookie. It’s time to take Boutte’s place. Hollins also had some deep threat ability. I’ll miss Boutte, I think he’s a good receiver. But our receiver room is deep, as I suspect Brown, Doubs and Douglas to be the top 3, with Hollins, Williams and Chism as their backups.

Interesting thought, re: Chemistry ... wonder how much input Drake had on this ...