Some would feel slighted by the comments made byNew England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel about Kayshon Boutte following his trade to the Houston Texans.
Boutte, who enters the final year of his rookie contract, agreed with everything said by his former boss regarding his role moving forward in Foxborough.
"They did pay two guys to come in and do that job. Sadly, it is the way it is," Boutte said in his first press conference with the Texans on Wednesday. "Being that it's a contract year for me, I seek the bigger role. I feel like what 'Vrab' said in his media interview, it wasn't nothing bad. I wouldn't say I used that as fuel. At the end of the day, it was an honest opinion. He sat there, talked, spoke his truth and pretty much moved forward
from there."
Over the past two seasons, Boutte had been the Patriots' No. 2 weapon, first behind tight end Hunter Henry and later behind former All-Pro Stefon Diggs. But New England wanted to upgrade its receiving room this offseason, so it released Diggs and acquired All-Pro A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles while also signing Green Bay Packers standout Romeo Doubs.
Kayshon Boutte on the Patriots moving on from him & Mike Vrabel’s comments:
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) September 2, 2026
“They did pay two guys to come in & so that job. Sadly it is the way it is, being that it’s a contract year for me, I seeked a bigger role. I feel like what Vrabes said, it wasn’t nothing bad. I wouldn’t… https://t.co/TXqyncdqkJ pic.twitter.com/IcCUY4OZvF
With them in the fold, Boutte had been pushed down the depth chart. Vrabel said after that trade that, given the depth of the receiver room, the former LSU star would have "been inactive without injuries."
With a new team, Boutte could be that No. 2 option in Houston. The Texans don't have a consistent second force at receiver behind Pro Bowler Nico Collins, so the explosive pass-catcher known for winning downfield could take over as the big-play machine downfield for C.J. Stroud.
Stroud and Boutte have barely worked together over the past week since he arrived from Foxborough, but the latter has been putting in the time after practice to build a rapport with his new quaterback.
“We get together after practice, kind of start building that timing,” Boutee said Wednesday. “Different quarterback for me, a different receiver for him. So as long as we on the same path, that's the goal at the end of the day.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans praised Boutte for his attentiveness of getting caught up before the team welcomes in Buffalo next week for the season opener.
"He's been dialed in to his preparation, getting himself ready to go,” Ryans said. “He'll be ready to go on gameday.”
Boutte, who finished with 33 catches last year for 551 yards and six touchdowns, plans to be the same type of playmaker that work with New England. After all, that's what caught Houston's attention to begin with.
"It's always good when the team wants you to come here," Boutte said. "They truly believe in your ability, big playmaking ability. I would just say for me, just doing what I always do, not overthinking it, try to catch everything that comes my way."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: New Texans WR Kayshon Boutte 'unphased' by Mike Vrabel comments, ready for new chapter
