Prior to being traded to the Houston Texans, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte had spent his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots. However, going into the final year of his rookie contract, the Patriots moved on from Boutte. He came to Houston to fill in the wide receiver void left by Jayden Higgins’ season-ending injury.
There were questions about the depth of Houston’s wide receivers even before Higgins’ injury. Nico Collins is undeniably the top receiver; Higgins was No. 2. Besides them, the Texans had Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel, Jared Wayne and rookie sixth-round draft pick Lewis Bond who is now on the practice squad.
Adding Boutte brought a serious vertical threat to the Texans that should make their offense more explosive this
season.
"I think 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. At the end of the day, I know it's a big year for me, so I make the most of my opportunities."
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
If Boutte wants to stay on the Texans beyond 2026, he is going to have to impress the coaching staff since he is still in the final year of his rookie contract with a cap hit of under four million dollars. Given the going rate for wide receivers, even if they are not the top receiver, Boutte would have a much greater cap hit next season if Houston decided to bring him back.
The Texans, with Boutte now locked in on making the team, begin the 2026 season on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans' Kayshon Boutte on final year of rookie contract: 'It's a big year for me'
