The Houston Texans have made a roster move by trading with the New England Patriots to acquire wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. The deal also involves safety Jaylen Reed and a seventh-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft.
Boutte, who will continue to wear blue, joins the Texans as they aim to reclaim the AFC South title from the Jacksonville Jaguars. This trade follows an injury to Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins, who tore his ACL during a joint practice with the Raiders on August 19.
Higgins, a former second-round pick, will now focus on recovery after a promising rookie season in which he caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns.
Originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Boutte has spent his entire career with the Patriots. After a limited role in his rookie season, he became more involved in the offense over the past two years, playing in 29 games and accumulating over 500 receiving yards in each season.
He recorded three touchdown receptions in 2024 and six in 2025, contributing to the Patriots' success as they won the AFC and reached Super Bowl 60.
Despite his contributions, Boutte's role diminished during the offseason as the Patriots added new talent, including A.J. Brown from the Eagles and Romeo Doubs from the Packers. The Texans' trade for Boutte comes amid ongoing questions regarding quarterback C.J. Stroud's performance, as he aims to improve after a challenging playoff run last season.
