RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesPatriots' Kayshon Boutte is Forcing a New WR Plan originally appeared on NESN .
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All offseason, there's been this undercurrent that the New England Patriots will trade away wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Boutte has shown up at training camp and made it seem like that could be a very bad idea.
The talented wideout has been the best player on the field for the Pats early in camp.
Admittedly, I had Kayshon Boutte off my 53-man projection this spring. Thought he might force a trade or not show up to camp ready to go. I was dead wrong. Boutte's been the team's best offensive player in camp. Just had another deep ball for a TD from Drake Maye. pic.twitter.com/TCvM1WDxp0
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) July 28, 2026 MORE: Is Tom Brady having a mid-life crisis ?
The thinking for the Patriots was that with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs added to the roster, Boutte's talent could be converted into a solid player elsewhere on the field.
Particularly given the fact that the Pats have a deep WR depth chart past Boutte, it made some sense.
There's another option, though, and Boutte is pointing it out loud and clear with his July performance so far: Keep them all.
If the Patriots have Boutte, and Brown, and Doubs -- that's a tough cover.
I have an extremely bold and controversial take: the Patriots should not trade Kayshon Boutte, play him besides A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, and simply have a very good receiving room https://t.co/CBBKl6st92
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) July 28, 2026 That post, from ESPN's Ben Solak, really does sum things up nicely. Teams often try to overdo it when they actually have an opportunity to weaponize a strong group.
Drake Maye would love to have one of the best pass-catching groups in football. As far as the QB is concerned, it probably doesn't make any sense to trade Boutte.
It could still happen, but right now, Boutte is making the case that having the maximum talent on the perimeter could be the way to go for New England.
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