The Patriots caught plenty of heat when they shipped Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans right before the season, and on paper, it looked like the kind of move that could backfire fast. Boutte had already built strong chemistry with Drake Maye, New England had lost Stefon Diggs in the offseason, and the return - Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick - was viewed as light. Add in the fact that Boutte was still on his rookie deal through this season, and the whole thing felt risky from the jump.
But the early returns have flipped the script. Instead of the Texans getting a clear upgrade and the Patriots taking a hit, Boutte has mostly disappeared in Houston.
Through seven games, he has 15 catches on 23 targets for 194 yards and no touchdowns. He did not seize the moment when Nico Collins missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a hamstring injury, finishing those games with just five receptions on seven targets for 58 yards.
On Sunday, in Houston’s overtime loss to the New York Giants, he was on the field for only five snaps. His place on the depth chart keeps sliding, too.
Houston had a need when Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in August, and Boutte looked like a natural fit to line up opposite Collins as a proven deep threat. That chance hasn’t turned into much.
The Texans have also added Marvin Harrison Jr., who scored a six-yard touchdown in his first game with the team, and they got Tank Dell back after he missed nearly two years because of multiple knee injuries; Dell had one reception for 43 yards against the Giants. Xavier Hutchinson, meanwhile, has been getting more usage than Boutte.
There’s still time for that to change, but right now it would be a major surprise if Boutte is still in Houston next offseason, unless the Texans move him first.
For New England, the picture is much steadier. The Patriots aren’t lighting it up, but they’re holding their own without Boutte.
A.J. Brown has been disappointing so far, though there’s still belief he can settle in after returning from injury.
Romeo Doubs is on injured reserve after showing promise before he went down, and Mack Hollins is also on injured reserve after emerging early as Maye’s favorite target.
Even so, the offense has found other answers. Efton Chism III delivered in the Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills and added five catches for 57 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. DeMario Douglas has also come on strong, piling up 14 receptions on 17 targets for 174 yards and three touchdowns over his last three games.
And the Patriots didn’t just let the extra draft capital sit around. They used the seventh-round pick from Houston to acquire Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals, and he has looked impressive in recent games. Reed, by contrast, has mostly been a non-factor.
Boutte was a useful player in New England, but at this point it’s hard to argue the Patriots should regret the deal. Mike Vrabel already said the 24-year-old likely would have been inactive on game days if he had stayed because he doesn’t play special teams. That makes the trade look even better for the Patriots now that Boutte hasn’t taken off in Houston.
In Other News...
Patriots Punt Decision Says Plenty About Mike Vrabels 2026 Plan
The Patriots have settled one small but telling piece of their 2026 roster by releasing punter Bryce Baringer from injured reserve, a move that clears the way for Mitch Wishnowsky to take over as the teams main option. Mike Vrabel framed the decision as a straightforward one, saying the club wanted Baringer to have a chance to chase other opportunities while also thanking him for what he brought to New England.
Wishnowsky now looks like the steady choice in a job that often gets overlooked until field position starts swinging games. He brings the kind of NFL experience and consistency Vrabel clearly values, and this move fits the broader tone of a team trying to sharpen its special teams identity while giving an injured player room to land on his feet. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Just Got A Painful Reminder About Drake Mayes Missing Weapon
The Patriots have spent the better part of the last couple of drafts trying to clean up the damage from a 2024 class that mostly missed the mark, with Drake Maye standing out as the lone real success story. Their recent haul has looked better, but the roster still has obvious holes, especially on offense, where every promising addition is supposed to help give Maye a more stable foundation and keep the rebuild moving forward.
One of those reminders came in a hurry against a receiver the Patriots passed on, even as they were adding TreVeyon Henderson to the mix. Luther Burden III made New England pay in a big way in Week 7, which only sharpened the question of whether the Patriots addressed their biggest needs in the right order and whether one of the best playmakers available might have been the missing piece for Maye all along. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Are Being Pushed Toward One Deadline Move Up Front
The Patriots defense has been good enough to keep them in games, but the front seven still looks like the area most likely to hold them back if they want to make a real postseason push. With the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, the conversation around New England has started to shift toward whether the team should do something aggressive up front, especially with the offense not always able to carry the load.
One name that keeps surfacing is a proven interior force from Indianapolis, a player whose production and contract situation make him a logical fit for a team trying to get sturdier down the stretch. The Colts struggles and the changes around their operation only add to the sense that a move could be possible, and for the Patriots the question is whether waiting is worth the risk if a difference-maker at defensive tackle is there for the taking. [Read more 🡒]