Why Patriots traded Kayshon Boutte to Texans for a safety and a draft pick

Why Patriots traded Kayshon Boutte to Texans for a safety and a draft pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots added two top-tier wide receivers this offseason, one being A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in a blockbuster trade, and another being free-agent WR Romeo Doubs.

Both of those are nice additions for the Patriots and Drake Maye, but it's also opened the door for Kayshon Boutte or another receiver to be traded. Boutte's name was popping up in trade talks often this offseason, and now he's reportedly on the move.

According to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer, the Patriots are trading Boutte to the Houston Texans in exchange for a draft pick and young safety Jaylen Reed. So, why did the Patriots make this roster move?

"Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports," Pelissero reports.

This decision for the Patriots shouldn't be a huge surprise, as there's been plenty of buzz about New England being open to trading Boutte this offseason.

With Brown, Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and even Efton Chism III, the Patriots could see Boutte as expendable.

The only question was: What could New England get for a rental of Boutte? Well, in this situation, the Patriots are landing 2025 sixth-round draft pick safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick.

Getting Reed, a 23-year-old safety with three more years of control plus a draft pick in exchange for a rental season of Boutte isn't a bad move for New England at all.

MORE: Texans linked to Rashod Bateman and Kayshon Boutte amid trade talks for WR help

Reed played in seven games for the Texans in 2025, recording one fumble recovery and 14 tackles and a 118.7 passer rating allowed.

But the big thing with Reed here is that he instantly provides the Patriots with the depth they need in the safety room.

Craig Woodson and Kevin Byard are two solid starters, but behind them are Mike Brown, Dell Pettus, Brendon Schooler, and John Saunders Jr. That's a very shallow depth chart in New England.

But now, the Patriots land an intriguing young safety with some upside in Reed, alongside a draft pick that, even if it's a seventh-rounder, would make this deal worth it.

This is a good move for the Patriots. Boutte's loss does sting a bit, but in an ideal world, he wasn't going to see much work, with Brown and Doubs taking the bulk of the receiving work, and Douglas, Hollins, and the tight ends also being involved.

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