Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte continues to power through an uncertain situation in training camp, months after he reportedly requested a trade.
“I'm a pretty positive person. I come in every day ready to work. It's another opportunity. You could be without a job. I get to wake up every day, 7 a.m. Come here, do what I do, make plays. That's my life,” Boutte said after Thursday’s practice, which was closed to the public.
Boutte opened camp on a tear, looking like quarterback Drake Maye’s favorite target and a real deep threat. As pads came on and Maye and new star receiver A.J. Brown have built chemistry over the last week, however, Boutte has taken noticeably more reps with backup Tommy DeVito. That’s not to say he isn’t still getting opportunities with the first team: Maye overshot him early in 11-on-11s, with safety Craig Woodson – who’s had a very positive second camp – in coverage.
“I think everybody would like to have more first team reps,” Boutte said, when asked whether he lobbies for more run with Maye. He said he does not, and added, “The word of the camp opportunity,”
Clearly, that means the opportunity to show out elsewhere, if there isn’t a great fit in New England. Boutte said he hasn’t had further conversations in camp about a trade, but he’s aware that while he may be lobbying for himself during practices, outside eyes will be on him in the upcoming weeks.
“Even preseason, really, all 32 teams watching, not just the team you play for. So, like you said, yeah, everybody watching.”
Boutte, a 2023 New England draft pick, has shown improvement every year. He wrapped up the 2025 regular season with slightly fewer receiving yards, (551) than in 2024, (589), but his average yards per reception was a whopping 16.7, and he doubled his touchdowns.
But he’s in a contract year, and the additions of both Brown and free agent signing Romeo Doubs has made the receiver room ultra-competitive, and one has to assume Boutte’s targets would decrease from the past two seasons.
When asked, he diplomatically said there was a role for him in New England. Would it be a role that would get him something closer to Doubs-like money next offseason? That’s unlikely, and he had another answer that was quite revealing:
“It's whatever best for me, you know. Like I said, whether it's here or somewhere else, I got to do what's best for me.”
