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New England Patriots

The New England Patriots reportedly have a compensation price in mind for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported this on Wednesday evening.

Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors over the past couple days. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz noted that the Patriots would be open to moving the wide receiver. These rumors have only intensified with the first round of the NFL draft happening on Thursday.

Now, Breer noted on Wednesday exactly what the Patriots will be looking for if they were to trade the wide receiver.  He elaborated on it in his pre-draft column, as a highly anticipated draft is about to get underway.

Some veteran names could be moved over the next couple of days, and one to watch is Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who’s shown promise through three years, with 76 catches for 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns in 29 games over the past two years. New England’s looking for a Day 3 pick for the 23-year-old, who is entering a contract year.

Patriots Playmaker Had Impact Season

Boutte had a tremendous 2025 season. He was a bona fide weapon for the Patriots’ offense, and he was a favorite target of quarterback Drake Maye. He recorded 33 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season. The LSU product also showed his ability to stretch the field, as he averaged a staggering 14.7 yards per reception. A hamstring injury sidelined him for multiple weeks over the course of the season. Even still, he was able to establish himself as a reliable and dependable big-play threat.

That only continued in the playoffs. He was able to accumulate 20 targets over the course of four games. The playmaker accumulated 168 postseason yards. He started off this stretch strong when the Patriots took on the Los Angeles Chargers. He had four catches on four targets for 66 yards.

His success continued in the divisional round against the Houston Texans. In that game, he recorded five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown itself helped pad the Patriots’ lead in the game.

His performance over the next stretch of games would be a bit quieter. He recorded a combined two catches for 11 yards against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game and the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Even still, he established himself as a reliable postseason playmaker. He went from being a promising receiver to a savvy veteran who could make things happen after the catch.

Patriots Could Move Him At Right Time

Now, the Patriots could look at trading him during the draft. This could be a smart move at this point in time. His value is extremely high as both a veteran playmaker and dependable receiver. The wide receiver’s statistics have increased each year, and he is in a position to really take that next step. It’s reasonable to think that the Patriots’ asking price is not too high for a receiver of his caliber.

Although it would be difficult to see him go, given the fact that his career has blossomed with the Patriots, it may be a necessary evil. It will be interesting to see if he will be used as a trade piece over the next couple of days or if he will stay put. Additional draft capital may be something that the Patriots could utilize over the next couple of days and a trade could be imminent. It’s all part of the fun of the NFL draft.