Kayshon Boutte performed admirably as the New England Patriots’ starting X-receiver in 2025. However, his role might be looking drastically different heading into the upcoming season.
The Patriots, after all, traded first- and fifth-round draft picks to the Philadelphia Eagles for fellow wideout A.J. Brown. While Brown, like Boutte, is not a one-dimensional player only capable of performing in one role, his résumé as an X is well-documented and worthy of the much-talked-about WR1 label.
Adding a player
of that caliber to the mix, has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the group. No player might be more impacted than Boutte, who has been the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason.
And yet, he welcomes Brown coming aboard.
“That was a good pickup,” he told WBZ’s Dan Roche over the weekend. “He’s a great dude. You watch him, he dominates. Great X-receiver. Dominant. Whether that’s deep ball, short route, he can catch; slant and take it to the house. Big-bodied. Contested catches. We watch those guys. I’m an X-receiver, too. I sit there and watch his tape. Just a guy you see that constantly wins 1-on-1.”
While Brown projects as a starter in the Patriots’ offense alongside fellow offseason pickup Romeo Doubs, Boutte is not shying away from the challenge that is competing against him and the rest of the wideouts on New England’s roster.
“There’s always competition. Every year,” he said. “Nothing is going to be given to you. Whether you’re on the outside looking in or on the inside looking in. At the end of the day, every day counts. You’ve got to make it count.”
Boutte has made it count since joining the Patriots as a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. While he had a quiet rookie season, he made a sizable sophomore jump and quickly earned new quarterback Drake Maye’s trust. Last season, after already being speculated as a trade candidate, he had his best campaign to date.
Despite missing three games with injury, the veteran wideout still finished with 42 catches for 719 yards and seven touchdowns. Most importantly, he again showed why Maye kept trusting him.
Whether the Patriots’ decision makers feel the same way will be seen. The 24-year-old himself, meanwhile, has decided not to listen to any rumblings even while his absence from voluntary offseason workouts only added fuel to the fire.
“I try not to buy into whether it’s the trade rumors or anything like that. I’m still working even though I’m away. That’s my focus,” Boutte explained, while adding his objective would be to stay with the Patriots long-term.
“I want to be in New England for the rest of my career. I’ve enjoyed it out here. Been here three years. Every day I’m here. I call this home. This is my new home. Grew up in Louisiana, stayed there 20 years, but now Boston is my life.”
