Considering the last few months of speculation, the New England Patriots trading Kayshon Boutte did not come as too big a surprise. Neither was them sending the fourth-year wide receiver to a Houston Texans team that had just lost fellow wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL.
What might have come as a bit of a surprise, and the general consensus around the move reflects this, was the return: second-year safety Jaylen Reed and a seventh-round draft choice in 2028. We have already looked at what
the move means for the Patriots from a big-picture perspective and their wide receiver group in particular. Now, let’s focus on who on the team is better or worse off because of it.
Winners
WR Kyle Williams: Williams served as the Patriots’ backup X-receiver behind Boutte last season, and did show some promise in his limited opportunities as an injury replacement. However, with both Boutte, A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs all on the roster as perimeter targets this summer, he was relegated mostly to second-string duty. The team is still high on him, and Monday’s trade further strengthens his position on the team — something the first post-Boutte practice on Tuesday already reflected.
WR Mack Hollins: When it comes to actually replacing Boutte’s contributions as the No. 4 wide receiver on the team, Mack Hollins might be the frontrunner. The veteran has not been a particular standout in training camp, but his abilities as a big-bodied red area target and a blocker in the run game will allow him to see regular action. He is not the same player type, but is an established commodity in the New England offense who, similar but not quite like Boutte, has good chemistry with Drake Maye.
WR Efton Chism III: Before the Boutte trade to the Texans was finalized, the Patriots had seven roster-worthy wide receivers on their roster. The seventh among those, and therefore the one on the fringes of the 53-man team, was Chism. While a solid player whose versatility can be an asset, he could have ended up losing his roster spots to needs elsewhere. However, it now seems like a fairly safe bet that he will make it onto the team.
Zak Kuhr: Talking to reporters since the trade was made official, Patriots assistant coaches expressed their excitement about getting Reed aboard and working with it. They also highlighted his physical play style and versatile skillset — two assets that will likely also appeal to the team’s defensive coordinator. Kuhr likes to call an aggressive game and move his players all over the formation to create favorable matchups. Reed should be a perfect fit to the unit in that regard.
Losers
QB Drake Maye: Boutte was never a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver, but he and Drake Maye developed a nice chemistry going back to the latter’s rookie season in 2024. Maye trusted Boutte on deep shots down the field, and the former sixth-round draft pick delivered some spectacular plays in their two seasons working together (and this year’s training camp as well). The receiver group around New England’s franchise quarterback is still very deep, but the Maye-Boutte connection was still a fun one to watch.
(Speaking of fun, how about a fun fact? The first and last touchdown pass from Maye to Boutte both came against his new team, the Texans, and both versus All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.)
The depth safeties: Even before training camp started, the hierarchy at the safety position was set. There were starters Craig Woodson and Kevin Byard, and everybody else. That second group competed for what was unlikely to be more than two spots on the team, but that outlook has now changed. With Reed effectively a roster lock alongside Woodson and Byard, the other depth safeties — in particular Dell Pettus, John Saunders Jr. and Mike Brown — have now been put in a difficult spot.
