After a spring and summer filled with speculation about Kayshon Boutte’s role on the Patriots, the team has traded the wide receiver to the Texans.
New England are trading Boutte to Houston in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the pick is a seventh-round pick in 2028.
The 24-year-old Boutte is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract and requested a trade earlier this offseason. With the trade for A.J. Brown and the free-agent signing of Romeo Doubs, Boutte was in line to be a backup receiver with New England.
After Boutte caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season while taking 67 percent of New England’s offensive snaps, a similar opportunity to produce was unlikely to present itself for Boutte again with the Patriots in 2026.
The Texans found themselves in need of a wide receiver after second-year wideout Jayden Higgins — a second-round pick in 2025 — tore his ACL last week at practice. Tank Dell, who missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a leg injury late in the 2024 season, is unlikely to be able to start the season as he continues to work his way back. The Texans signed veteran receivers Zay Jones and Sterling Shepard last week following the Higgins injury, and Boutte will now have a tight window to learn Houston’s playbook and earn a role behind top receiver Nico Collins.
Reed, 22, played in seven games with one start for Houston last year. He recorded 14 total tackles (nine solo) and a fumble recovery while taking just 73 defensive snaps. He also took 113 special teams snaps.
“God don’t make no mistakes, I’m grateful for the Texans taking [an] opportunity on me,” Reed posted on his Instagram story. “Thankful for all my brothers and relationships I’ve made in Houston.. Forever hold a strong part in my heart.. Let’s do it #PatsNation”
Reed took zero or one defensive snap in five of his seven regular-season games of action before taking 83.3 percent of Houston’s defensive snaps in a Week 12 win over the Bills and then 31.5 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in a win in Indianapolis a week later. He did play in Houston’s two playoff games — 47 snaps in a win in Pittsburgh, 53 snaps in the loss in New England — and recorded five total tackles.
The Texans drafted Reed with the 187th overall pick (sixth round) in the 2025 draft out of Penn State. Reed earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors in his final season with the Nittany Lions, leading the team with 98 tackles while recording three interceptions and 2.5 sacks.
Reed joins a safety depth chart that has Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson at the top, with Dell Pettus likely in line as the primary backup. The likes of John Saunders Jr. and Mike Brown have been competing for roster spots this summer.
