RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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A trade went down in the NFL that the Buffalo Bills will be very aware of as it will affect the team's game plan three times during the 2026 NFL season.
The Houston Texans , who the Bills face in their first game next season, lost starting wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a season-ending injury . Houston found a replacement via Buffalo's AFC East rival, the New England Patriots .
According to The Ringer's Tom Pelissero, the Texans landed wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in the trade and sent a draft pick and safety Jaylen Reed in the other direction in the deal.
Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports . pic.twitter.com/NZXCdOX4RT
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 24, 2026 The more impactful side of the trade is on the Texans' side. Boutte steps into the No. 2 wideout role in Houston opposite of Nico Collins and the Bills defense will have to deal with him in Week 1.
Boutte, 24, had a promising season last year as the No. 2 target for Patriots QB Drake Maye en route to the Super Bowl. Boutte caught 33 passes for 551 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 2025.
On the Patriots' side of the ledger, trading Boutte related to the offseason additions of veteran Romeo Doubs and three-time All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown. Adding Reed, a sixth-round pick during the 2025 NFL Draft, is a prospect for the future and potential immediate contributor on special teams.
Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Patriots execute big trade with early opponent on Bills' 2026 NFL schedule
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