With the Patriots adding receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, fourth-year wideout Kayshon Boutte could be getting fewer targets in 2026. To no surprise, he reportedly wants to be traded.
Coach Mike Vrabel was asked by reporters on Monday how he has navigated the situation.
“I have a lot of respect for Kayshon, and we went through this last offseason,” Vrabel said. “He had a great offseason, and he had a good training camp, and that played out during the season. He was a large part of our success, and his communication through this offseason with Todd [Downing] and myself, he is a pro. He understands what his job is, and he has gotten off to a good start. So I have a lot of respect for him for the way that he has handled all these different situations, the conversations outside of here and the noise that does not affect his performance on the field.”
A sixth-round pick in 2023, Boutte caught 33 passes for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 2025. He added 168 yards on nine catches in the postseason.
Entering the last year of a contract that pays him $3.674 million in 2026, he’s part of a crowded depth chart that includes Brown, Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Ryan Williams. It won’t be easy for Boutte to have the kind of contract year that will set the stage for a significant deal on the open market.
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