The Houston Texans traded for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte in a deal with the New England Patriots on Monday, August 24, 2026. The trade comes after a week Houston lost WR Jayden Higgins, who suffered a torn ACL during practice sessions with the Las Vegas Raiders. Houston transferred safety Jaylen Reed, who appeared in seven games as a sixth-round rookie last season and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick, to the Patriots for Boutte.
Texans had anticipated Higgins to be their No. 2 wideout alongside Nico Collins to add depth to the depth chart. Higgins, who was a second-round pick of the 2025 NFL draft, posted 525 yards receiving and six touchdowns as a first-year pro. Boutte, who is set to appear in the last year of his contract, played 10 games last season and posted 33 receptions for 551 yards and six TDs.
After the Patriots acquired receiver A.J. Brown in June and signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year contract valued at $68 million in March, the Texans now plan to utilise Boutte differently on offence. The Patriots had picked Boutte, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 203 pounds, in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft after he finished collegiate football at LSU.
The management of both teams expressed confidence that the trade will benefit their respective rosters ahead of the upcoming fixtures. Fans and analysts are closely monitoring how the newly acquired players will adapt to their respective tactical setups and contribute during the demanding regular season.