The Houston Texans have finalized a trade to acquire wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots. In exchange, the Texans provided a seventh-round draft pick along with safety Jayden Reed. This move comes after the injury of second-year receiver Jayden Higgins, who suffered a torn ACL during practice.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans discussed the trade after a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers, emphasizing Boutte's potential to enhance the team's offense. Ryans referred to Boutte as a valuable addition, especially given Higgins' injury, stating, "Adding Kayshon is a big get for us." He highlighted Boutte's playmaking ability and prior experience against the Texans.
Boutte was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and has shown consistent performance while with the Patriots. In the 2025 season, he achieved 33 catches totaling 551 yards and six touchdowns, playing a role in the Patriots' Super Bowl run.
This season marked his second straight year with more than 30 receptions and 500 receiving yards, while also increasing his touchdown total from the previous year.
With Higgins out, the Texans aim to utilize Boutte alongside Nico Collins as an outside receiver, hoping his proven skills will bolster their passing game this season. Ryans expressed confidence in Boutte's development, noting he is still a young player with significant growth potential. Details on how Boutte will fit into the Texans' system and his performance in upcoming games remain to be seen.
